The Hon. Kevin Anderson, Minister for Lands and Water (NSW), Media Release, 20 October 2022
A 10 per cent increase in supplementary water access licences has been allocated for NSW Murray irrigators, taking the total for the 2022/23 water year to a record 110 per cent of entitlement.
Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said the exceptionally wet conditions have resulted in a major increase in unregulated flows in the Murray which means there is an unprecedented amount of water in the system.
“This is positive news for irrigators as it will provide additional opportunities and greater flexibility for cropping decisions ahead of the summer growing season,” Mr Anderson said.
“It is hard to believe that only three and a half years ago, at the peak of the State’s worst drought, the Murray River was on the verge of running dry and we are now in a unique position to offer a one-off increase in supplementary water allocations.”
Supplementary water consists of flows from rivers and tributaries downstream of dams that cannot be captured or re-regulated into storages and is not needed to meet current demands or commitments. The 10 per cent increase will provide an extra of 25 GL of water in total this year.
“It has been an extraordinary year of record rainfall across the State, which means every other licence category in the NSW Murray regulated river water source, including environmental allowances, has been fully met for this water year,” Mr Anderson said.
“The small increase in supplementary water for Murray irrigators for the remainder of this water year has been approved because it is the only NSW valley with more than 20 per cent credit against its Sustainable Diversion Limit, and there will be zero impact on other licensed water users, or the environment.
“The Department of Planning and Environment has carefully considered every potential impact for Long Term Average Annual Extraction Limits and believes, under the current wet weather conditions and the ongoing La Nina forecast, this move is sustainable.
“It is a sensible response to the high flow conditions in the Murray with all storages spilling, including Dartmouth Dam, for the first time since 1996.”
