Strategy launched to secure Lachlan’s water future

The NSW Government has launched the Lachlan Regional Water Strategy, a long-term plan to meet the water needs of the region and support water security for Parkes, Cowra, Forbes, and other communities across the Lachlan for the next 20 years and beyond.

The strategy provides a clearer pathway for a more resilient and sustainable water future, progressing a range of solutions to shore up water for residents, farmers, businesses, Aboriginal people and the environment.

Key actions include:

• Supporting towns and local water utilities to deliver water supply, urban water efficiency, water conservation and leakage reduction initiatives
• Supporting local councils to improve flood risk management
• Improving cultural outcomes and creating jobs in the water sector for Aboriginal people and supporting them to be more involved in water management
• Working with industry to plan for, adapt to and mitigate against climate change, by better understanding their needs, addressing systemic issues around water reliability, and leveraging climate model data to improve water management
• Increasing numbers of native and threatened fish by improving fish passage and installing screens at priority sites to protect fish from irrigation pumps
• Improving groundwater knowledge and management so this important resource can be sustainably accessed to support communities
• Investigating upgrades and automation of existing weirs and structures in the mid and lower Lachlan to improve environmental water delivery
• Investigating the potential expansion of the regional water supply grid. Future work in this space will also consider the outcomes of the Belubula Water Security Project Final Business Case, which the NSW Government is developing to help ensure greater water reliability and increased drought resilience for the region

We have consulted widely with the community throughout the plan’s development, and we’ve received significant input which informed the final strategy and its actions.

The strategy is also underpinned by new, ground-breaking climate data and state-of-the-art modelling, allowing us to better understand and plan for future water security risks.

New environmental data for the Lachlan Valley is now available on our online portal, showing modelled streamflow and storage volume data under different climate scenarios, including long-term projections. This will help local water utilities, industry, and community groups better plan for their water futures.

How strategy actions will be delivered is outlined in an implementation plan, available on our website at: Lachlan Regional Water Strategy.

NSW DCCEEW Executive Director of Regional Water Strategies, Kaia Hodge, said:

“This is a strategy for the whole Lachlan community. It’s backed by the best scientific data and informed by listening to feedback from local governments, Aboriginal people, environmental and industry groups, water users and locals.

“We know water security is front of mind for these communities, as is preparing our water resources for future challenges and weather extremes, including droughts and floods.

“We’re working to meet these challenges, progressing an array of solutions that will best support the region.

“This strategy is critical to supporting a strong local economy, maintaining a healthy river system, and delivering safer, more secure, resilient and reliable water supplies for the entire Lachlan for generations to come.”