GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION

Events

The Natural Resources Commission  has commenced its statutory review of the         Water Sharing Plan for the Gwydir Alluvial Groundwater Sources Order 2020

This is your opportunity to share your views on how the plan is working with regards environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes.
The NRC is interested in stakeholders sharing their thoughts Have your say.     Submissions are due by Friday 6th November 2026.

As water sharing plans approach expiry, they are supposed to be independently reviewed by the NRC to assess how well they contribute to environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes, and whether changes may be needed to improve outcomes.
The NRC findings provide advice to the Minister for Water to inform decisions about whether to extend or replace the plans. 

The most recent NSW Irrigators Council newsletter is here now. It features

  1. #IrrigationMatters in NSW
  2. Works classification fee-free period extended to 1 December
  3. Upcoming NSW Water Sharing Plan replacements
  4. Consultations open (MDBA, IGWC, IPART) 

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, Dr Simon Banks, is selling up to 15 gigalitres of annual water allocations in the Gwydir Catchment in New South Wales via a competitive tender process. A media release announcing the sale can be seen here.

Important information about this sale:

  • The tender opens at 10:00 AM (AEST) on 29 September 2026 and closes at 05:00 PM (AEST) 1 October 2026. Bids can only be submitted during the tender open period.
  • Bids must be submitted via the Commonwealth Environmental Water Trading Portal. This online portal is hosted on the ‘360’ tender platform. To gain access to the Bid Form, potential Bidders will first need to create an account on the 360 platform with a username and password. 
  • The sale will have minimum Bid volume of 5 megalitres (ML) and a maximum Bid volume of 5,000 ML.
  •  No agents (including water brokers) have been appointed to represent the Commonwealth in this process. Bidders may, at their discretion, submit a Bid through the online portal using an agent of their choice.
Please see the water trading webpage for more information regarding this trade and how to submit a Bid

You can contactthe CEWH at ewater@dcceew.gov.au

Water NSW have announced that the free fee period for recording a work/s classification has been extended until 1 December 2026, giving water users more time to ensure each water supply work has a work classification recorded without paying an application fee.
There is now more time available to learn more about works classifications and how to apply. More information is available on the Water NSW our website, with customers encouraged to book a one-on-one appointment to discuss their situation.

Today the MDBA released an information pack outlining emerging policy directions for the Basin Plan review. It is available on the MDBA website and highlights several areas.
1. climate risk and adaptive response
2. The Northern Basin and Menindee
3. Native fish and Water Quality
4. Optimising outcomes from water for the environment
5. Sustainable Diversion Limit assessments where the Gwydir is mentioned 
NSWIC and NIC will be attending a roundtable next week to discuss these areas. 

This week NSW Irrigators Council launched #irrigationMatters This will primarily be a social Media campaign, please share as our communities and our irrigation businesses do matter, 

“Our growers are not just producing for today – they are investing in the future of Australian agriculture. They are growing the food we eat, the fibre we rely on and building farms they want to hand on to the next generation.

“Water policy must give them the certainty to keep producing for Australia, now and into the future.” Media available here

Video to share here 

Facebook

The August newsletter from NSW Irrigators council provides information on 
1. The water Act review: including a link to their submission which focuses on 
a) Strengthen the tripple bottom line
b) Ensure consistency between all licenced water and 
c) Maximising the outcomes of the CEWH porfolio
2. NSW budget estimares
3. The release of the National Water Agreement (which has not been signed by any states)

The NSWIC monthly newsletter reinforces the importance of getting policy settings right to support regional NSW into the future. The endless process of reviews and reforms continues. The newsletter includes comment on the following:

  1. Water Act Review discussion paper consultation underway
  2. 2024-25 SDL accounting shows perfect score
  3. NSWIC GM July event wrap up 
  4. Productivity Commission Review into National Water Iniative

The August Water Allocation Statement makes no changes to ECA or General security allocations. An account reconciliation reduced the General security balance by 10GL.
The s324 remains in place for access to FPH and Supplementary entitlements, however restrictions are temporarily lifted as there is approximately 264GL in the upper lakes at Menindee. The restriction will come back into force if the upper lakes drop to 250GL. 
There is an average 86% account balance for General Security and a 135% account balance for the environmental allowance. 

The Management zones and ecological assets associated with the Gwydir Floodplain Management Plan are now available on an intereactive map. This will be useful to help identify which parts of your landholding fit in which zone, and the location of ecological assestsas determined by the government. 
Submissions on the Gwydir Plan review have been extended and are due on Tuesday 18th August. Submission can be made following links on this department page. Summary of changes are available here

Critical items to consider include: 1. Management of historical works
2. Additional requirements for works in management zones A and D (details available here)

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