GVIA

News & Events

News |

Today the MDBA have released the Constraints Relaxation Implementation Roadmap. Constraints relaxation were identified as a necessary component to enhance environmental outcomes from water recovery in the original Basin Plan. They were the driving force behind schedule 5 Enhanced environmental outcomes to increase the volume of water resources available for environmental use by 450 GL per year. There will be challenges for producers in our region. The roadmap states:
"New South Wales is also at an advanced stage in the planning of constraints relaxation implementation in the Gwydir. Engagement with stakeholders and landholders has identified key issues to delivery that mean full implementation will likely extend beyond December 2026. The Australian and NSW governments are working together to rescope the Reconnecting Watercourse Country Program to ensure tangible outcomes are delivered to relax system constraints in the Gwydir by December 2026. In April 2025, NSW will provide an options assessment report to the Commonwealth identifying the preferred delivery option for a rescoped program."

News |

The Draft Gwydir unregulated Water Sharing Plan includes 327 newly prescribed wetlands. If you have one of these on your property, or neighbouring your property you may wish to put in a submission to the NSW government raising your concerns. 
The included template is an example of what you might like to use in your submission to the NSW Government. Please replace the text highlighted yellow with your thoughts for the wetland you are concerned about. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact the GVIA on 02 6752 1399.
Anyone can put in a submission, these are due on the 2nd of February 2025. 
The following link provides a number of documents, including an interactive map regarding the water sharing plan and the wetlands. 
The department are hosting a webinar on the wetlands on Monday 9th December, You can register here.

Events |

The DCCEEW will be hosting a webinar on the draft Water Sharing Plan for the Gwydir Unregulated River Water Sources 2025.

This webinar on Tuesday 19th November 2024 from 12 noon will cover the following topics:

  • the draft water sharing plan
  • the public exhibition details, and
  • how to make a submission. 
A question-and-answer session will be held at the end of the webinar. Please include your questions when you register at the link below.
Alternatively email your questions to wspconsultation@dpie.nsw.gov.au.

There will also be a meeting in Bingara on Wednesday 27th November 2024. Register here

News |

WaterNSW pricing proposal to double cost of rural water

Rural water users in NSW could see their costs more than double over the next five years if IPART accepts the WaterNSW pricing proposal released today. 
NSW Irrigators’ Council CEO Claire Miller said pricing proposal recommends hiking water bills by 21-24% every year for five years, adding up to $40,000 to a ‘typical’ farmer’s water bill by 2030.
“NSWIC is alarmed by this proposal and urges stakeholders across industries to understand the implications. Many stakeholders are not fully informed about the proposed prices, leaving them at risk of being unprepared until it is too late,” Ms Miller said.

Events |

This month’s focus is on Water Sharing Plans, what they are and why we need them. The presentation will cover how water sharing plans are remade and outline which inland plans are due to be remade by 1 July, 2025 and how you can comment on the proposed changes.
Speakers from the Water Group at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water include:

  • Peter Hyde, Director Inland Water Planning
  • Antonia Morrow, Senior Advisor, Water Engagement team


Wednesday 16th October 2004, at 11am - 

Register Here

News |

Included is the NSW Irrigators Council September Newsletter. This includes commentary on;
Concerns raised by the Inspector-General for Water Compliance in an audit of DCCEEW, (federal) protocols to prevent insider trading on its Bridging the Gap (BTG) water buyback.
The release of the latest round of water buybacks under Bridging the Gap, aimed at recovering water to meet Sustainable Diversion Limits (SDLs) in the Condamine-Balonne and NSW Border Rivers.
The National Water Agreement which introducers a range of concerning proposals under the 302 principles that the federal government is trying to rush though before the next election.
The National Ag Rally - and the complete lack of consultation with farmers in areas which are critical to the sustainability of the industry - our Chair Jim Cush joins the 1-2,000 at the front of parliament house. 

Events |

The National Farmers Federation (NFF) is holding a farmer rally in Canberra to highlight the key issues impacting on Australian agriculture and its communities -- including the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. If you cannot make the rally NFF have a petition going.

 The Rally in front of Parliament House will begin at 11am on Tuesday, September 10. Further details can be found here - https://nff.org.au/national-farmer-rally/ . 

News |

The MDBA published the 2022-23 Sustainable Diversion Limit Accounts on 2 August. It shows water use across the Basin was 23 per cent below the 2022-23 SDLs, continuing the pattern of chronic and persistent water underuse since the 1994 Cap.

In NSW Basin valleys, water use was 16.6 per cent, or 1105 GL, under the state's SDLs for 2022-23.  The Gwydir diverted 26%, or 214.5GL less than its 2022-23 SDL.
Several other valleys were also well under, including: 

  • Barwon-Darling diverted 34 per cent, or 155 GL, less than its 2022-23 SDL.
  • NSW Murray diverted 25 per cent, or 342.6 GL, less than its 2022-23 SDL.
  • Macquarie-Castlereagh diverted 27 per cent, or 231 GL, less than its 2022-23 SDL
Since accounting began on 1 July 2019, water use across the Basin has consistently remained below the SDLs, accumulating a 5076 GL credit in unused water

Events |

The Water Engagement Roundup is a live monthly webinar about all ongoing and upcoming engagements and consultation on important water policy, reforms and programs for New South Wales, and includes a guest presentation topic each month. This month’s focus topic is a deep dive into some of our work under the Hydrometric Networks and Remote Sensing Program, following with an open question and answer session. 
Speakers from the Water Group at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water include:

  • Mustak Shaikh, Principal Remote Sensing/Geospatial, Water Knowledge
  • Kilian Vos, Senior Remote Sensing Analyst, Water Knowledge
  • Antonia Morrow, Senior Advisor, Water Engagement team


Register Here

News |

The most recent NSWIC newsletter provides details of some of the challenges being faced by water entitlement holders across NSW. The GVIA are working with NSWIC on the issues that will directly impact our region. Most critical at present is the Connectivity Panel report. Over the next few weeks we will provide you more insight into how or what actions we can progress. 

  1. Buybacks begin
  2. Cumulative threats to water access
  3. Northern Basin Connectivity Expert Panel report
  4. Coastal metering 
  5. Fish passage news update 
  6. Upper Murrumbidgee River Health Strategy 
  7. Coastal Sustainable Extraction Project

News |

Moderate rainfall and constant river flows were experienced across the Gwydir catchment during 2023–24. Major flooding occurred across the Gwydir River floodplain during March and April 2023. 
Water managers used water for the environment during the 2023–24 water year to support fish communities in rivers and create connections to the Barwon River, the Mallowa Creek, and low flows into the Gingham Watercourse to fill waterholes by season’s end. 
In planning for 2024–25, water managers have applied: 

  • a set of principles and triggers to guide the watering of key water-dependent assets
  • an adaptive approach to support fish and downstream ecological connectivity.


As of June 2024, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation outlook is neutral. That is, neither La Niña nor El Niño conditions are favoured as oceanic and atmospheric indicators have returned to neutral levels. International climate models suggest neutral El Niño–Southern Oscillation conditions will persist through the southern winter, but there are some signs that La Niña conditions could form later in the 2024–25 water year.

News |

WaterNSW has recently installed a new Hydrometric gauging station on Gurley creek at Tyrone road. This gauge will be able to provide river height data as soon as there is water in Gurley creek. There may be a delay in it's ability to provide accurate flow information.

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