Environmental groups have welcomed the Minns Government over its key decision to regulate floodplain harvesting. 

Floodplain harvesting is using levee banks to divert water from the floodplain into private dams.

The new Floodplain harvesting licences to be issued in the Namoi Valley will reduce the volume of water currently taken by up to 40 percent the state government says.   

In a statement, the NSW Government aims to reduce the risk of over-allocation by taking "a more measured and sustainable approach to the licensing of floodplain harvesting."  

“The changes have been carefully considered and follow community consultation, multiple independent expert reviews and recommendations from the 2021 Select Committee Inquiry," a government statement said.  

The Government says it is striking the right balance between the needs of the environment, water users throughout the river system and town water supply.  

It will also reduce supplementary access for Namoi Water uses, establish an independent Connectivity Expert Panel to provide advice on any potential changes and continue to investigate the most appropriate ways to implement any temporary water restrictions. 

Mel Gray. Image: The Daily Liberal. 

The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC) congratulated the Minns Government, and commended Minister for Water Rose Jackson on the decision to reign in floodplain harvesting in the Namoi Valley.

The NCC says that floodplain harvesting “captures natural flowing water that would otherwise have become a public asset supporting community recreation, fishing and the environment - it has increased by 2.4 times in the Darling-Baaka since the 1990s”.   

“After listening to the community and the evidence, Minister Jackson has thrown a lifeline to the people of downstream river towns like Narrabri, Walgett, Bourke, Wilcannia and Menindee” Mel Gray, NCC Water Campaigner said.    

“Namoi Valley is the only valley where floodplain harvesting licences are not yet issued. This has allowed the Minister to ensure the huge, multinational irrigator consortiums who have constructed extensive earthworks and helped themselves to this water for decades can no longer simply take as much of this floodwater as they can capture.    

She said that  “Wetlands are shrinking faster than any other ecosystem in the world” and that “Floodplain harvesting strangles our rivers and starves our wetlands.” 

Image: NSW Government.  

Minister for Water Rose Jackson said “I support the measurement and management of floodplain harvesting but we need to ensure we’re doing it right and not at the expense of our waterways and downstream communities, particularly given the impacts of emerging drought conditions.” 

The National Irrigators Council did not respond for requests to comment.