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

State-first strategy to secure future of NSW groundwater

5 July 2022

The draft NSW Groundwater Strategy, the state’s first-ever long-term roadmap for the sustainable management of its vast and precious groundwater resources.

Narrabri irrigator fined over unlawful water take

7 December 2021

A Narrabri based landholder has been fined $10,000 following prosecution by the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) for alleged breaches of the Water Management Act 2000 (WM Act).

NRAR finds solution to protect natural streams in Moree Plains

8 November 2021

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.

NRAR works with illicit tobacco taskforce on latest prosecution

18 October 2021

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).

Opportunity to obtain new water access licence

15 October 2021

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is making new water access licences available in 47 groundwater sources across NSW.

NRAR finds non-compliance in 17 Coffs horticulture operations

10 November 2020

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) has released the results of Phase 3 of its intensive horticulture compliance campaign in Coffs Harbour.

NRAR visits Dubbo and Hillston in next leg of Operation Drawdown

28 September 2020

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.

Temporary water restriction for Upper Lachlan groundwater

2 July 2020

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

NSW Groundwater allocations

25 June 2020

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

Operation Drawdown to target overextracting bores in Griffith area

3 June 2020

The state’s water regulator will be visiting properties with bores in the Griffith area in mid-June after a ‘desktop audit’ found almost 10 per cent of bores in the area may be extracting more water than allowed.

Water Regulator finds 18 Coffs Harbour horticulture operations non-compliant

14 April 2020

The state’s independent water regulator has released the results from Phase 2 of its Coffs Harbour Intensive Horticulture compliance campaign.

Dubbo area water user convicted and fined $18,900

12 March 2020

A Dubbo area landholder has been fined a total of $18,900, ordered to remove an unlawful dam and ordered to pay prosecution costs of $30,000 in Dubbo Local Court this week.