Thousands of stone artefacts found during the Dungowan Dam investigations in northern NSW have been returned to Kamilaroi/Gomeroi Country during a smoking ceremony at the Tamworth Botanical Gardens this week.

Walcha’s 3000 residents will soon have access to a drought-resilient water supply, thanks to the completion of a new $11 million off-stream storage dam co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.

The Macquarie-Castlereagh Regional Water Strategy has been finalised, giving towns from Oberon, Bathurst and Orange in the east, to Dubbo, Narromine, Warren and Nyngan in the west, a clear pathway to a sustainable water future.

The NSW Government is commencing consultation with local councils this week on the shortlisted options in the Macquarie-Castlereagh Regional Water Strategy.

The Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) is warning hypoxic blackwater conditions are occurring along the Barwon-Darling River, which have impacted fish, causing some recent deaths.

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) has helped to protect environmental flows in the Gwydir River system, by finding a solution to address a landholder’s alleged unlicensed water take.

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) has commenced a prosecution against a company and an individual based in the Southern Tablelands for alleged breaches of the Water Management Act 2000 (WM Act).

An independent review of the MDBA modelling of constraints has commenced following the appointment of an expert panel based on terms of reference by the Victorian and NSW water ministers.

The NSW water regulator has reached preliminary findings in its investigations into Maules Creek Coal Mine, concluding alleged unlawful water take is occurring at the site.

NSW Deputy Secretary Water announced the draft Water Resource Plan for NSW Intersecting Streams surface water areas has been placed on public exhibition.

Given the drought is intensifying across the state, the NSW Government continues to implement drought management measures in consultation with communities.

The Water Regulator is continuing to shepherd environmental water flows released from the northern Murray-Darling Basin.