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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 1 July 2008 PEEL VALLEY WATER ALLOCATION ANNOUNCED The Department of Water and Energy today announced reductions in water allocations for the Peel Regulated River and restriction of groundwater allocations for the Peel Valley Alluvium for the start of the 2008-2009 water year. Town water supplies, high security and stock and domestic water users will receive 100 per cent of entitlement following widespread rainfall over the catchment during the summer months. The storage capacity of Chaffey Dam is currently around 76 per cent. While this is an improvement on the same time last year, providing an increase of 30,455 megalitres, general security allocations will commence at 30 per cent of entitlement. The groundwater allocation for licences in Zone 1 managed alluvium in the Peel Valley at 1 July will be 55 per cent of entitlement. Should favourable rainfall result in further water becoming available, additional allocations may be made during the water year. Rainfall patterns over the summer months have also provided Peel Valley farmers with some relief by replenishing soil moisture and lessening the need for irrigation water. While the current outlook for water users in the Peel Valley is not ideal, the situation is much better than the scenario faced this time last year. It is important that water users are aware of the current water availability in order to plan their operations over the coming 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