The Parkes community is well on its way to securing future-proof and drought-resilient water services for decades to come as construction wraps up on the first stage of a major water infrastructure overhaul.

Mungindi has switched on a new permanent $325,000 water cooling tower to ensure the town’s 600 residents will continue to have safe and high-quality drinking water during weather extremes.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has extended the consultation period on the Snowy Water Licence until Friday, 13 October to allow further input from stakeholders.

The Murray Darling Basin (MDB) is Australia's most important agricultural region and produces one-third of the country's food supply. As with other complex river systems around the world, there are a wide variety of competing uses for a variable and