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

Murray Floodplain Management Plan open for feedback

20 May 2024

Residents across the NSW central Murray region are invited to have their say on key elements of the draft Murray Floodplain Management Plan, an important tool to manage rural flood works and their valley-wide effects on flows and connectivity.

Have your say on coastal floodplain drainage

19 February 2024

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

Floodplain harvesting changes to balance needs

7 December 2023

To reduce the risk of over allocation, the NSW Government has announced changes to take a more measured and sustainable approach to the licensing of floodplain harvesting.

Secret life in our waterways unveiled

22 November 2022

A new environmental monitoring program is peeling back the curtain on the secret life of fish and other aquatic animals living in NSW’s coastal rivers.

Hypoxic blackwater in western and southern NSW

23 December 2021

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.

Cockburn River water connectivity study progressing

3 September 2021

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment today released a progress report into the water connectivity study being undertaken on the Cockburn River to assess interaction between surface and groundwater.

Floodplain Harvesting regulations 'What We Heard' reports released

1 May 2021

New floodplain harvesting regulations will enable the rollout of the NSW Government’s first-ever floodplain harvesting licensing and measurement scheme.

Have your say on review of the Gwydir Valley floodplain management plan

6 April 2021

The NSW Government is calling for community feedback on the five-year review of the Gwydir Valley floodplain management plan.

NRAR sets sights on quarry compliance

25 March 2021

Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) officers will be visiting quarries in the Northern Rivers, the Hunter and Sydney Metro to assess their compliance with water laws.

Update on flood events in northwest NSW

21 December 2020

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.

Flood event in Gwydir Valley

17 December 2020

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

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.