Published in October 2023, the Macquarie–Castlereagh Regional Water Strategy provides a long-term, catchment-wide plan for water security across the Macquarie and Castlereagh River systems in central inland NSW.
The strategy identifies four key priorities:
- ensure safe and reliable water supplies for growing regional cities and towns
- reduce water security risks in the region’s west
- support industry and community climate adaptation
- improve the health and resilience of natural systems.
The Macquarie–Castlereagh Regional Water Strategy is making major progress in improve water security and resilience across the region. The strategy identifies 60 initiatives to address priority risks and opportunities. Progress to date includes 32% of initiatives completed, 40% underway, and 21% transitioned into business-as-usual activities of the department and other water managers. These initiatives are strengthening water planning and informing future investment decisions.
Key areas of progress to date include:
1. Ensuring safe and reliable water supplies for growing towns
Short-term drought preparedness
- All major councils now have drought management plans incorporating lessons from recent dry periods. This includes the recent 2024 Drought Resilience Plan developed in coordination by Bathurst, Oberon and Lithgow councils.
- Changes to strengthen reliability for town water supply in Orange and Bathurst have been recommended as part of the replacement of the Water Sharing Plan for the Macquarie Bogan Unregulated Rivers Water Sources 2012.
- New stream gauges upstream of Bathurst to improve real-time monitoring and drought response.
- In 2019, the NSW Government allocated over $30 million in funding to support the development of bores south of Dubbo. Investigations into groundwater augmentation for Dubbo are still progressing, with additional funding sought for next steps.
Long-term water security
- The department is partnering with local councils through the Regional Water Loss and Efficiency Hub, delivering projects on leakage reduction, metering and water-pressure management.
- The NSW Recycled Water Roadmap was released in June 2025 and is now in implementation guiding the adoption of recycled water for improved town water security.
- The Macquarie Wambuul Water Security Project and Belubula Water Security Project are advancing investigations into new infrastructure options, including regional pipelines, storage upgrades, and valley connectivity.
- Orange City Council has received $400,000 to run a business case that looks into purified recycled-water demonstration plant to test advanced reuse technologies.
- The department has commenced investigations into the Fish River Water Supply Scheme and its future capacity to support new users.
2. Reducing water security risks in the region’s west
- A detailed business case for the Cobar–Nyngan Pipeline has been completed, with the NSW Government currently pausing further investment due to cost considerations.
- Investigations into minimum inflows from Burrendong Dam are underway to ensure reliable downstream supply.
- Implementation of floodplain harvesting licences and connectivity measures continues, improving environmental flow reliability.
3. Supporting industry and community climate adaptation
- Updated hydrological models for the Macquarie, Bathurst and Orange catchments are now available for use by local planners and industries.
- As part of the NSW Groundwater Strategy, CSIRO has conducted research on groundwater climate impacts.
- The department is working closely with Aboriginal communities through the NSW Aboriginal Water Strategy and Regional Aboriginal Water Committees to support better outcomes.
4. Improving the health and resilience of natural systems
- Major habitat and flow-improvement projects have been delivered, including fishways and barrier removals along the Oxley Break and other key reaches.
- WaterNSW has completed the Cold Water Pollution Strategy which is helping to address cold water pollution issues across the state. This strategy is set for review in 2026.
- The Improving Floodplain Connections Program (completed June 2025) has remediated unapproved works and improved floodplain–river connectivity.
- New water-quality sensors are operating in the Cudgegong and Macquarie systems, and the Macquarie Long-Term Environmental Water Plan is under review.
- The NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) completed removal of major log jams and willow rafts from the Macquarie River in 2024.