Water allocations reflect continued good water availability

Today’s mostly full opening water allocations reflect the state’s continued good water availability following consecutive wet years.  This is good news for licenced water users, who will see most entitlements nearing maximum allowable levels.

Across inland NSW, allocations for all high priority water uses including town water, domestic and stock watering are full.

Most general security water users have access to good volumes of water in 2024/25 either through opening allocations or from water allocated earlier and carried forward, or both. Coastal catchments are also mostly fully allocated.

All licensed valleys, except for the Lower Namoi, have received full supplementary access allocations. Most groundwater users have also been fully allocated, as have all floodplain harvesting licence holders.

Rainfall across much of the state was either below average or average during the year, providing helpful inflows into systems.

The new water year sees healthy but dropping storage levels, with all major dams operated across the state rural network at an average of about 75 per cent full, totalling 13,000 gigalitres. This is down from 90 per cent last year.

The Menindee system is currently 61 per cent full, holding around 1,056 gigalitres. This is enough to meet all needs in the Lower Darling, including a full (100 per cent) general security allocation for the 2024/25 water year.

We will continue to monitor conditions closely and make timely announcements about changes to water availability and outlooks as the 2024/25 year progresses.

Water allocation statements for major inland regulated river systems are published and updated on the department’s website at least monthly. The statements explain the latest information on the sharing of available resources.

For more information on water determinations and for the latest statements, visit: Water allocation statements

NSW DCCEEW Director of Water Planning Implementation, Allan Raine, said:

“It’s encouraging to see continued good water availability across the board to sustain environments and prosperous communities as we move into the new water year.

“We expect these allocations to provide a solid foundation for farmers and help support a productive agricultural season which is great news for local communities.

“However, water availability is moderately down from July 2023. We’ll continue to monitor conditions and make changes to allocations if warranted throughout the year.”