As flood concerns follow Warren and local towns through the Macquarie River, a peak farming body is asking all levels of Government to act now when implementing flood protections.

Following major flooding across the state late last year and into 2022, the Independent Flood Inquiry suggested 37 recommendations of reform to improve flood outcomes across the state. 

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said it’s crucial to get moving on reforms quickly after a number of key issues were identified.

“Right now there are farmers, families and businesses still getting on top of the repairs and rebuilding from flooding earlier in the year, and they’ll be understandable apprehensive at reports La Nina is coming back,” Mr Martin said. 

“At-risk farmers and communities cannot allow the hard-learned lessons from these floods to be forgotten, we must ensure any new agencies deliver what people actually need,” he said. 



As part of the recommendations, reforms to improve the NSW State Emergency Service and abolishing Resilience NSW - which has been criticised as lacking structure and purpose - are high on the list. 

More functional reforms include investments in required personnel, training and vessels for flood rescue, and incorporating community groups into state disaster recovery plans.

NSW Farmers is encouraging the government to work closely with the agricultural sector to deliver on the recommendations in the report, including the establishment of a full-time State Emergency Management Operations Coordinator, the recommendation to develop a single app with disaster updates, and improvements to weather reporting. 

“What we need to see is swift, decisive action from the government on some of these key recommendations, with better coordination of rescue and recovery, and a streamlined process for training, response and communication,” Mr Martin said. 

They are also putting pressures on local councils, however, to ensure that each community is prepared when it comes to on the ground measures and flood management.

“There is a real need for improved planning, assessment, and approvals around public and private works on floodplains, because farmers need certainty through transparency and consistent application of the rules,” Mr Martin said. 

Gwabegar homes were flooded in November 2021.

In the Western Plains, one of the worst hit communities from flooding was Gwabegar, who saw houses throughout the community inundated with water. 

Within the Narrabri Shire Council, plans for a Gwabegar-specific Flood Plain Management Plan Program is due to be delivered in 2022/23. 

In 2023/24, telemetric gauges on creek systems subject to flash flooding - such as the Baradine Creek that led to Gwabegar’s local flooding - will be installed. 

The Shire also plans to investigate the establishment of Helipads in key locations to assist in emergency management and evacuation efforts. 

“Farmers, families, communities, businesses, they need certainty around their future and there is a real opportunity here to demonstrate that people will not be forgotten when it matters most,” Mr Martin said. 

“The impacts of these flood events is felt far beyond the food and fibre growing regions of our state – we all saw the headlines about lettuce shortages as a result of floods – and we all need to make sure we have an emergency response system that will avoid unnecessary delays to getting help where it’s needed most.” 

Along the Macquarie River, spills from the Burrendong River combined with local rainfall has caused renewed and prolonged flooding. 

Warren is likely to remain at major flood levels over the next few days.