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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 1 July 2008 NAMOI VALLEY WATER ALLOCATIONS ANNOUNCED The Department of Water and Energy today announced Available Water Determinations for the Upper Namoi and Lower Namoi Regulated River for the start of the 2008-2009 water year. Town water supply and stock and domestic water users will receive 100 per cent of entitlement and high security access licences will receive 1 megalitre per share unit, due to good rainfall over the catchment during the summer months contributing to the storage capacities at both Keepit and Split Rock dams. Keepit Dam is currently around 20 per cent - an improvement on the same time last year, providing an increase of 70,700 megalitres. There is sufficient storage to secure current water held in accounts for Lower Namoi water users and inflows will be shared as new resources become available. The current storage capacity at Split Rock Dam is about 5.5 per cent and this will allow 100 per cent allocation to town water supply and stock and domestic water users and 1 megalitre per share unit for high security water users. Further rainfall may raise the storage levels, but until conditions improve, the Upper Namoi general security allocation will commence at 0.5 megalitre per share unit. Rainfall patterns over the summer months have also provided Namoi farmers with some relief by replenishing soil moisture and lessening the need for irrigation water. Broken Hill’s town water supply is secured for the immediate future, while the restrictions on the diversion of supplementary flows remain relaxed. Industry groups, irrigators and the townships of Manilla, Gunnedah, Boggabri, Narrabri, Wee Waa, Burren Junction and Walgett should benefit from these allocations for the new water year. While the current outlook, for water users in the Namoi Valley are not ideal, the situation is much better than the scenario they faced this time last year. Additional information is available on the Department’s website at www.dwe.nsw.gov.au. Alternatively, licence holders can phone their local DWE office for more information.   MEDIA CONTACTS Public Relations Officer Level 3, Noel Park House 155-157 Marius St PO Box 550 TAMWORTH NSW 2340 Telephone: (02) 6701 9662 Facsimile: (02) 6701 9680 Top of Page List of Media Releases © NSW Department of Natural Resources