Walgett mayor Jasen Ramien has acknowledged the work done in his community and NSW Government action to address community concerns about water security in Western NSW, by ensuring new fishway designs have no impact on local weir heights.

The mayor said for Walgett Shire, the stakes were high.

"Council made it clear from the outset that any reduction to the existing weir pool was unacceptable, working relentlessly to ensure the voices of Walgett residents were heard loud and clear."

“From the very beginning, Council stood firm,” said Mayor Ramien.

“We engaged constructively, we pushed back when needed, and we never lost sight of our community’s right to secure, reliable water."

Mayor Ramien also acknowledged the collective effort behind the win, with the fight involving multiple communities, from Collarenebri to Tilpa.

“This result reflects the strength of regional collaboration.

"I want to thank Bourke Mayor Lachlan Ford and his team for their tireless advocacy, Roy Butler MP and his team for standing with us, and most of all, the people of Walgett Shire.

"Your unity and determination made this possible.”

The Mayor says everyone has worked together to achieve the result.

“This is a great outcome that will see everyone win. This issue had real consequences for our communities and our region, and we are pleased to see a solution that secures both fish passage and our water future.”

Walgett Shire Council will continue to work closely with the NSW Government, neighbouring councils, and the community to ensure that water security and environmental health remain a priority for the region.

Barwon MP Roy Butler said it’s a victory for commonsense.

“I’d like to thank Minister Rose Jackson and Federal Minister Murray Watt for hearing the concerns of these communities.

“It’s still fresh in our minds how devastating the drought in 2018 was and it’s understandable these communities were opposed to any reduction in the capacity of the weir pool.

“This new proposal allows for a very important passage of fish but also acknowledges community concerns about water security.”

Minister for Water Rose Jackson said the decision is "a great example of why getting boots on the ground and taking time to have conversations directly with locals is a critical part of the decision-making process."

“I have attended dozens of meetings with stakeholders to listen and understand the different perspectives," she said.

"While residents understand the need to improve native fish movement, they have been abundantly clear that it cannot be at the expense of their town water storage.

"It’s great that we’ve been able to find a potential compromise that suits all parties without reducing the weir height at all and still delivering the fish passage we need.

“While we’ll still need to do the regular checks and balances, we believe we’ve found the answer and we’re looking forward to returning to the community in the coming weeks with this design.”

 Local opponent of previous weir designs Louth's Gary Mooring says he will wait to see new designs.

''It's positive the dialogue was good at the end with the community, heights will be maintained so we're pleased,'' he told the Western Plains App.

The $56.8 million Fish Passage: Reconnecting the Northern Basin Project aims to improve native fish migration and boost river health, supporting a 70 gigalitre reduction in water recovery targets in the Northern Basin under the Basin Plan.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has been working closely with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development – Fisheries to finalise a new design for the fishways.

The new design includes a small capping sill across part of the weir crests that will allow the fishways to operate effectively and maintain the current full supply level.

The work will install fishways and will fix the leaks in existing weirs to bring water loss down.

This solution enables native fish to migrate and breed, while also safeguarding local water supplies and meeting the needs of local communities.

While the intention is now clear, technical investigations will be undertaken to confirm the revised approach and drop-in community sessions to discuss the updated designs will be held in late October 2025, with exact dates and details to be confirmed soon at this website.