Yanco Creek Offtake Project

About the project

The Yanco Creek Offtake Project was one of two Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment Mechanism (SDLAM) projects focussing on the Yanco Creek system, alongside the Yanco Creek Modernisation Project.

The Yanco Creek Offtake Project investigated a suite of options to improve water management to help achieve the objectives of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The project originally proposed modifying or replacing existing infrastructure at the offtake from the Murrumbidgee River to the Yanco Creek system to provide higher levels of service and control through the system. This included raising the existing water level upstream of Yanco Weir by up to 2.5m under normal operating conditions.

Community members voiced strong opposition to the proposed project during community consultations. One of the key concerns was the potential impact the project may have had on the regularity of baseflows within the Yanco Creek system.

Project rescope

Recognising the original project had unique sensitivities and did not have widespread community support, the NSW Government began a rescoping process in 2021 to address community concerns.

As a result, the department’s Water Group substantially revised the scope of the Yanco Creek Offtake Project. The rescoped project focussed on a range of smaller scale options to deliver improved operational flexibility and environmental outcomes. These options raised the existing water level upstream of Yanco Weir by between 0 to 1.2m under normal operating conditions.

To determine the potential benefits of the rescoped project, the department undertook hydraulic modelling and a broad analysis of costings, with funding from the Australian Government.

The Yanco Offtake – SDLAM Benefits Study was completed in October 2023 and concluded there would be minimal water savings benefits from the rescoped project.

Project withdrawal

Based on the benefits study concluding minimal water savings would be achieved, NSW requested to withdraw the project from the SDLAM program. Basin states agreed to the NSW request in February 2024.

We wish to thank all stakeholders for the time and insights they shared with us concerning the project.

While NSW will not be progressing the Yanco Creek Offtake SDLAM Project, we continue to deliver the Yanco Creek Modernisation Project which is due to be completed by 31 December 2026. The Modernisation project will benefit ecosystems, communities, landholders and water managers across the Yanco Creek system.