The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) has announced ongoing temporary water restrictions for the entire Barwon-Darling Floodplain and for the Barwon-Darling River downstream of the Culgoa junction.
DPIE said the temporary restriction applied to the take of water by the holders of unregulated river access licences (A, B and C Classes) in the Barwon-Darling Unregulated River Water Source and floodplain harvesting on the Barwon-Darling Floodplain.
“The restriction will allow replenishment of town water supplies and will supply to high priority users, re-fill instream refuge pools in the local catchment and bring much needed flows into the Menindee Lakes and Lower Darling systems,” DPIE said.
“The restriction does not apply to take for basic landholder rights or domestic, stock and local water utility access,” it said.
DPIE said all other remaining restrictions in the northern NSW Murray-Darling Basin and on floodplain harvesting had expired on 28 February.
It said the restrictions would remain in place until 17 April unless conditions changed.
“Significant additional flows from Queensland are now forecast for the Culgoa River,” it said.
The Department said it expected some access from the Barwon-Darling River downstream of the Culgoa junction would be permitted when those flows progress to and through the Barwon-Darling.
A summary of the temporary water restrictions can be accessed at this PS News link.
