The Barwon-Darling water sharing plan was a failure and was not providing an equitable outcome for landholders, the president of the Pastoralists Association of West Darling (PAWD), Lachlan Gall said.
Speaking at PAWD's AGM in Broken Hill, Mr Gall said while PAWD applauded some infrastructure improvements such as the Wilcannia weir, the existing water agreement was failing to deliver.
"We will continue to advocate for better management of the Darling River and Menindee Lakes," he said.
"Three devastating fish kills at Menindee over summer has brought the issue of river management into sharp focus.
"PAWD supports infrastructure improvements along the Darling River and at the Menindee Lakes, including a weir at Wilcannia and a regulator between Lake Menindee and Lake Cawndilla. Additionally, river management rules must protect low flows from extraction to ensure that stock and domestic users, township requirements and the environment are not negatively impacted.
"The existing Barwon-Darling Water Sharing Plan has failed to deliver equitable outcomes for these stakeholders."
In other issues affecting western landholders, Mr Gall said he expected the promised extension of the Dog Fence would proceed in the near future, "as small stock production would not be possible in NSW without the existing Dog Fence, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that QLD and SA have major dog problems that could soon become our dog problems if the extensions are not completed".
Also PAWD had been advocating for the introduction of longer truck configurations west of the Darling River for over two years "without a response from government".
"There are efficiencies to be gained from using longer trucks, and PAWD can facilitate a trial run to explore the practicalities and safety issues involved in order to get the ball rolling on this issue.
"The Broken Hill truckwash project has been stalled for two years now. Council was granted $750,000 by the state government to build the truckwash, but to date no progress has been made and in intervention may be required."
Meanwhile, it's been reported water is slowly moving down the dry bed of the Darling.
Water is currently flowing at 14 nautical miles day from near Tilpa.
Locals say it is possible Wilcannia will get a flow within 20-25 days.
The current flow at Tilpa is 394megalitres a day, Louth 739mg/l a day, Fords Bridge 623mg/l a day, Barungun 373 mg/l a day.
A local farmer said: "Can only wait and hope. If numbers are correct Wilcannia should get a flow."
John Ellicott
journalist and author
journalist and author
