AS THE drought continues to bite, temporary pump restrictions across NSW will come into effect on Monday in a bid to supply water critical to stock, townships and permanent plantings.
A series of section 324 orders were gazetted by the NSW government today (Friday) and come into effect Monday.
NSW Border Rivers
Trade and carryover restrictions (access restricted to 50 per cent).
Upper and Lower Namoi Rivers
Trade and carryover restrictions (Upper Namoi 75pc, Lower Namoi 0pc).
Macquarie River
Trade and carryover restrictions (0pc).
Lachlan River
Trade and carryover restrictions (57pc).
Lower Darling
Extending existing arrangements whereby access is limited to critical needs, stock and permanent plantings only, to June 30, 2020, but with irrigation extraction to cease from Copi Hollow.
See full details of the temporary restrictions at: https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/gazettes/2019
The restrictions apply to water users in the state's hardest hit northern river valleys, where intense drought has reduced dam inflows to record lows, and the Lachlan valley in the state's Central West.
Key points:
The restrictions are required so critical needs can be delivered within the valley.
The suspended carryover water will be reserved in drought sub-accounts and made available when future inflows allow.
Some trade is being suspended to ensure that suspended carryover water cannot be traded, while still allowing trade of any available water.
A series of information sessions by the Department of Industry (Water) and WaterNSW across regional areas in recent months has been advising stakeholders, including irrigators, industry and local government, of the likely water availability from July 1.
In some valleys delivery of water orders to the lower reaches of the system may not be possible if the severity of the drought persists.
Where possible priority will be given to high security licences held by large employers or important economic drivers, however town supply remains top priority, according to WaterNSW executive manager system operations, Adrian Langdon.
"Water users have an obligation to ensure they are aware of the rule changes in the lead up to Monday's water availability announcement by the NSW Government," Mr Langdon said.
"This drought is among the worst on record as far as inflows go in some of our northern dams, and water authorities are taking the tough steps necessary to ensure that critical needs including town supplies continue to be met."
WaterNSW is already undertaking urgent short-term capital works in the Peel and Macquarie valleys to extend supply if the drought persists including: raising Warren weir to capture sufficient water to extend supply to Warren, as well as Nyngan and Cobar; building temporary weirs (block-banks) on the Peel River to divert water via pipeline to Tamworth to reduce transmission losses and extend the city's supply.
More information regarding the temporary water restrictions can be found on the department's website - www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/allocationsavailability/temporary-water-restrictions
