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 $16 million Winburndale Dam Flood Security Upgrade is nearing its final stages, with 19 of 25 pre-stressed ground anchors now installed to reinforce the dam wall.

Tamworth and the Peel Valley have one more week to have their say on the New Dungowan Dam and Pipeline Environmental Impact Statement.

The NSW Government has reaffirmed its opposition to non-strategic water buybacks being used to meet water recovery targets as part of the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

Communities across the state have reaped the benefits of the NSW Water Strategy, with the first progress report showing major milestones achieved just 12 months after its launch.

The community is invited to have its say on the draft Namoi Regional Water Strategy, a plan to deliver more secure, safe and reliable water for Tamworth, Narrabri, Gunnedah and the Namoi region for the next 20 years and beyond.

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.

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.