North Western water sharing plan open for feedback

The NSW Government is calling for feedback on the draft North-Western Unregulated and Fractured Rock Water Sources Water Sharing Plan, which will spell out clear rules for the fair and sustainable distribution of water among users in the region for the next decade.

Executive Director of Water Planning Giselle Howard said the public exhibition period is a chance for water users and other stakeholders to have their say and help the government finesse the plan to balance the needs of communities, industries and the environment.

“Water sharing plans are legal instruments that must be replaced every ten years so it’s essential we start gathering opinions now while this plan is in draft form,” Ms Howard said.

“The north-western corner of NSW is one of the most untouched and uniquely beautiful parts of the state, but it is also some of the driest and harshest terrain in the country which is why looking after the area’s precious water sources, including groundwater, is so vital.

“It’s also home to over 274,300 hectares of major ephemeral wetlands recognised internationally as significant waterbird habitats. These include large saline and freshwater lakes and extensive floodplain wetlands associated with the Bulloo River.”

The proposed replacement water sharing plan continues to protect water for basic landholder rights, cultural needs, the environment, and sets limits on how much water can be taken.

“We’re putting the call out to First Nations people, residents, businesses and local governments to get involved so we can deliver the best outcomes,” Ms Howard said.

“These towns have first-hand experience living through the state’s worst drought and with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a return to drier conditions by the end of the year, properly managing our water resources has never been more important.

“Our aim is to make the transition from the existing water sharing plan to the new one as seamless as possible, while still looking at making improvements where necessary.”

The public will have until midnight 10 August 2023 to submit feedback on the draft plan.

Every submission will be carefully considered before the final water sharing plan comes into effect on 1 July 2024.

To learn more, visit water sharing plans.