About the project
The proposed Macquarie-Wambuul Water Security Project (previously known as the Macquarie River Re-regulating Storage Project) aims to improve water security and reliability and support a healthy river environment.
To achieve these aims, the department’s Water Group is investigating options aligned with the Macquarie-Castlereagh Regional Water Strategy. These include:
- a regional pipeline connecting Dubbo to Nyngan and other towns
- using some of Burrendong Dam’s flood mitigation storage to increase water supply
- a new weir to replace Gin Gin Weir, including a fishway between Warren and Narromine
- a range of non-infrastructure options to achieve project goals.
Project location
The Macquarie-Wambuul River system is part of the Macquarie-Castlereagh catchment in central west NSW, within the traditional lands of the Gomeroi/Kamilaroi, Ngemba, Ngiyampaa, Wailwan and Wiradjuri people.
The river rises in the Great Dividing Range near Bathurst and flows north-west past Wellington, Dubbo, Narromine and Warren to meet the Barwon River upstream of Brewarrina. It includes the Macquarie Marshes, an internationally significant wetlands area.
Project need
The Macquarie-Castlereagh region is experiencing more frequent and severe drought, increasing pressures on water security. There is a need to:
- more efficiently deliver water to high priority needs and reduce town water security in the region’s west
- improve the drought resilience of industry.
Project benefits would include:
- reduced water security risks for major regional towns and high priority water needs in the catchment’s west
- better water supply for high priority needs in the west of the catchment and connected valleys
- improved drought security for water dependent industries driving the economy
- maintained flows into the Macquarie Marshes.
Project funding
The NSW and Australian Governments are jointly funding $9.35 million to deliver a final business case for the project, with the Australian Government contributing through the National Water Grid Fund.
The funding will allow the NSW Government to conduct detailed planning work and technical, environmental and cultural heritage assessments, alongside broad community and stakeholder consultation to ensure the best infrastructure solutions are progressed.
The outcomes of these studies and consultations will be included in the final business case, which will guide project future funding decisions by the NSW and Australian Governments.
Stakeholder engagement
The department’s Water Group is committed to building and maintaining respectful, trusted and collaborative relationships with our communities and stakeholders to ensure water infrastructure projects achieve the best possible outcomes.
We will be offering opportunities for communities and stakeholders, including First Nations communities, to engage with us and provide feedback as we develop the Final Business Case for the project.
Upcoming engagement opportunities will be highlighted on this project webpage and on the Water Group’s have your say page.
Contact us
If you have any questions or need more information about the project or the project activities email us MWWSP@dpie.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 081 047.