With the recent heavy rain across the state and additional rain expected in coming weeks, the NSW Government is continuing to prioritise the Hunter Valley Flood Mitigation Scheme.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment today extended the temporary restriction on interstate water trades into the NSW Murray, Lower Darling and Murrumbidgee regulated river water sources to 30 September 2023, unless repealed earlier.

The NSW Government welcomes the findings of the Independent Review by the Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) into the deaths of millions of fish along the Darling-Baaka River near Menindee earlier this year.

NSW has made significant progress towards its obligations under the Murray Darling Basin Plan, having  now lodged its final water resource plans to the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA).

Today’s water allocations announced by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment for licensed water users reflect some improvement in resource availability, particularly for towns and high priority entitlements.

Two landholders from the Walgett area will face 14 charges in the Land and Environment Court for breaches of water laws in 2016 and 2017.

The NSW Government is committed to the sustainable and equitable management of the State’s water resources, including strong and effective compliance.

The Murray Darling Basin (MDB) is Australia's most important agricultural region and produces one-third of the country's food supply. As with other complex river systems around the world, there are a wide variety of competing uses for a variable and