The NSW Government is delivering more than $11 million in new infrastructure to improve water quality and reliability in the Central Darling Shire.

A new $720 000 water treatment plant is providing safe and reliable access to water for Tomingley on the Western Plains thanks to funding from the State and Federal Governments and Narromine Shire Council.

Construction has started on the new $11.5 million Puddledock Dam pipeline to provide greater water security for Armidale.

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.

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