The NSW Government invites community feedback on the proposed floodplain harvesting rules for the Namoi valley.

A new 300 megalitre off-stream storage dam at Walcha will provide greater water security and reliability for residents and businesses and to help drought-proof the town’s water supply.

The NSW Government is leading the charge in returning water to floodplains, wetlands, rivers and creeks by bringing unapproved flood works into compliance across the northern Basin.

Work has begun on a new $5.1 million Wyangala Water Treatment Plant which will deliver up to 800,000 litres of clean drinking water every day to village residents and the popular holiday park.

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.

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

An independent panel will begin an assessment of the management of the first flush event in the Northern Basin earlier this year, the result of the first significant rainfall event in the region since 2016.

Reinstatement of restrictions to floodplain harvesting

The NSW Government has commenced public exhibition of the draft floodplain harvesting monitoring and auditing strategy and announced community meetings in Moree, Narrabri, Narromine, Bourke and Sydney next week.

Floodplain landholders and the community are invited to comment on the draft Macquarie Valley Floodplain Management Plan.