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All Current and Past Media Releases
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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 5 December 2008 MORE WATER FOR MACQUARIE-CUDGEGONG IRRIGATORS The Department of Water and Energy today announced a four per cent increase to the water allocation for Macquarie-Cudgegong general security licence holders. “This is the second water allocation for general security licence holders this water year and brings their total allocation to five per cent,” said the Department’s Deputy Director-General, David Harriss. “Dams in the Macquarie-Cudgegong catchment in the State’s Central West received some good inflows during November. “The storage levels at Burrendong and Windermere dam rose to about 25 per cent. Mr Harriss said that Government decided to make the allocation increase after balancing the needs of Macquarie-Cudgegong general security water users with those of other water users in the community. “There is enough water in the system to meet town water supply, stock and domestic and high security needs for the rest of this water year and for part of 2009/10,” he said. “This extra water will enable local irrigators to plan for the summer irrigation season with greater hope and more certainty and will also benefit the environment. “Today’s announcements credits a further 6,400 megalitres water to the environmental water account held in Burrendong Dam. “More water will also be credited to adaptive environmental water licences held by the Commonwealth and NSW governments. “This water will be released downstream as part of a targeted environment water program to benefit Macquarie riverine and wetland environments.” Mr Harriss said that despite recent improvements, the Macquarie River water sharing plan will remain suspended. “We can only reinstate the plan once we have secured enough water to meet all critical human needs for all of 2009/10,” he said. “So far we’ve set aside about 75 per cent of what’s required and we’ll be drawing on future inflows to build on our water storage reserves for next year.” Mr Harriss said that at the start of summer NSW is a State of drought and flooding rains. “We’ve got dams spilling and wheat crops washed out in the Central and North West of the State, while water availability remains low in the Lachlan, Darling, Murray and Murrumbidgee regions. “No matter where you live, I urge all NSW water users to continue to save water. “We’ve a long, hot summer ahead and every drop counts.” More information on water availability in the State’s major river valleys is available on the Department of Water and Energy’s website: www.dwe.nsw.gov.au.
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