For the first time, ten inland regional communities will benefit from a new $1.5 million NSW Government funding program aimed at boosting drinking water quality.

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.

Residents, businesses, Aboriginal groups and other stakeholders are being encouraged to have their say on the NSW Government’s recently released options report which aims to simplify the regulatory framework of coastal floodplain drainage works

The Bureau of Meteorology advises that widespread rainfall, including possible heavy localised falls, is forecast across much of inland northern NSW river valleys over the next 12-18 hours.

There are reports of heavy rain in the Gwydir region which could lead to overland flows.

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.

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.

The first stage of the Independent Panel Assessment of the Management of the 2020 Northern Basin First Flush Event has been completed and a draft report is now available, Secretary of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Jim Betts

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

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.

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is making new water access licences available in 43 groundwater sources across NSW.