A NSW Government website

Media enquiries

For all water related media enquiries please email watermedia@dpie.nsw.gov.au

Subscribe to updates

To stay updated on water management matters, water projects and plans, visit our subscription centre and select the topics that matter to you most.

Sign up here

Lifting the shell on endangered Manning River turtles

4 July 2024

Researchers have captured the world’s first images of endangered Manning River turtles mating in the wild as part of ramped-up monitoring work uncovering never-before-seen clues about their lives.

Water allocations reflect continued good water availability

1 July 2024

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.

Hunter Valley Flood Resilience Strengthened

10 April 2024

With the recent heavy rain across the state and additional rain expected in coming weeks, the NSW Government is continuing to prioritise the Hunter Valley Flood Mitigation Scheme.

Temporary restriction on interstate water trade

1 September 2023

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment today extended the temporary restriction on interstate water trades into the NSW Murray, Lower Darling and Murrumbidgee regulated river water sources to 30 September 2023, unless repealed earlier.

The world of water science shaping our future strategies

16 August 2023

The NSW Government is taking a deep dive into our incredible aquatic life across the state - everything from turtles and dragonflies to frogs, plants and endangered fish - to improve the way we manage our waterways for the next generations.

Government taking action to help protect Menindee

22 April 2023

The NSW Government is taking proactive and precautionary action to help protect the Darling-Barka River as we move into cooler weather conditions.

All 20 NSW water resource plans lodged

14 February 2023

NSW has made significant progress towards its obligations under the Murray Darling Basin Plan, having  now lodged its final water resource plans to the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA).

NRAR visits Dubbo and Hillston in next leg of Operation Drawdown

28 September 2020

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) begins the next leg of Operation Drawdown this week, targeting bores which appear to be exceeding their extraction limits.

Independent panel releases final report on first flush event

9 September 2020

An independent panel commissioned to assess the management of the 2020 Northern Basin first flush event has released its final report, Secretary for the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Jim Betts has announced.

Companies held to account by water regulator

3 July 2020

The state’s water regulator is holding two companies to account in separate prosecutions for alleged breaches of the <i>Water Management Act 2000</i>.

Temporary water restriction for Upper Lachlan groundwater

2 July 2020

The department announced a temporary water restriction for the Upper Lachlan groundwater management zone 1 in the Upper Lachlan Alluvial Groundwater Source.

NSW Water Allocations reflect some easing after record drought conditions

1 July 2020

Today’s water allocations announced by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment for licensed water users reflect some improvement in resource availability, particularly for towns and high priority entitlements.