Despite the recent rainfall received in the area, there has not been any significant inflows into the state’s water storages. On 31 March 2019, the Minister for Regional Water made an order for temporary water restrictions under Section 324 of the Water Management Act 2000 (the Act).
Under Section 324, the Minister has the authority to order temporary water restrictions within a water source for a specified period if those restrictions are determined to be in the public interest. Under Section 324(1), public interest includes “to cope with a water shortage, threat to public health or safety or to manage water for environmental purposes”.
The order imposes temporary water restrictions on certain takes of water from the Lower Namoi Regulated River Water Source, the lower parts of the Namoi Unregulated Rivers Water Sources and the lower parts of the Macquarie Bogan Unregulated Water Sources.
WaterNSW customers have been notified if these restrictions affect your water access licence or approval.
On 30 April 2019, WaterNSW released the Regional Drought Update which showed that general security access licences, mainly held by irrigators in NSW will have zero allocation in both the Namoi and the Peel for 2019/2020 if the conditions remain dry. The report indicated that Keepit Dam is currently at 0.7% of active capacity and that the Tamworth Water supply is only secure through to July 2020
If you are a Water Access Licence or Approval holder, the above restrictions will have an impact on your current conditions of your licence or approval. If you need assistance in understanding your current conditions, please contact Everingham Solomons because Helping You is Our Business.
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