Published in June 2023, the Namoi Regional Water Strategy sets a long-term pathway for addressing the key regional challenges facing and improving the water security over the coming decades. Developed through extensive consultation with water managers, communities, and users, and underpinned by strong, science-based research, the strategy identifies three key priority areas for the valley:
- supporting the long-term water needs of towns across the region
- supporting regional communities under a more variable and uncertain future climate
- improving the health and resilience of water-dependent ecosystems.
The Namoi Regional Water Strategy is achieving major progress in improving water outcomes across the Peel and Namoi Valleys. The strategy identifies 77 initiatives to address immediate challenges and improve the reliability of water for towns, industry, Aboriginal people and the environment. To date, 26% of initiatives have been completed, 40% are underway, and 21% have transitioned into ongoing work led by the department and other water managers. These initiatives are strengthening the evidence base for investment, improving water planning, and supporting short-term drought preparedness.
Key areas of progress to date include:
Supporting the long-term water needs of towns across the region
Short-term drought readiness for towns
- All councils in the region now have drought management plans informed by lessons from the most recent drought of record.
- The department has undertaken investigations into short-term measures to improve Tamworth’s immediate drought security while longer-term initiatives continue to be developed. This includes assessing temporary changes to town water reserves in Chaffey Dam.
- Programs are underway to improve local water efficiency, stormwater harvesting, and recycled water investigations, strengthening short-term supply resilience.
Longer-term water security initiatives
- A $6 million joint investment from the NSW and Australian governments is funding a full business case for advanced water-treatment facilities to support future supply augmentation.
- A further $3 million has been allocated to develop a preliminary business case exploring town water supply augmentation options across the region.
Together, these actions reflect a multi-layered approach that builds immediate drought resilience while laying the groundwork for enduring water security in the Namoi region.
Supporting regional communities under a more variable and uncertain future climate.
- Updated hydrological and climate models for the Peel and Namoi valleys are now available on the SEED portal, supporting more informed water planning and decision-making.
- A May 2023 investigation into water licence activation assessed risks from inactive licences impacting water security.
- Floodplain harvesting licences issued in 2023 include mandatory measurement requirements to ensure extractions remain within sustainable limits. Licensing across northern Basin valleys is largely complete, with the Namoi Regulated River system nearing finalisation.
- The Improving Floodplain Connections Program (completed June 2025) enhanced compliance processes, with the NSW Natural Resource Access Regulator (NRAR) progressing actions against unapproved works.
Improving the health and resilience of water-dependent ecosystems
- Water NSW’s drought management plan for the Namoi regulated system applies lessons from recent droughts to protect critical environmental and community water needs.
- Local Land Services has delivered the Fencing Northern Basin Riverbanks Program, improving water quality in key catchments.
- To support aquatic biodiversity, 4 of 7 planned fish diversion screens have been installed in the Namoi Valley.
- The remake of the Peel and Namoi Water Sharing Plans is progressing, with unregulated plans expected to be completed by 2026.
- The department is developing Knowledge Roadmaps to address information gaps on groundwater ecosystems, climate change impacts, and connectivity.
- As part of improving flow management, the North-West Unregulated Flow Management Plan review is ongoing. The Connectivity Expert Panel Report (July 2024) and the NSW Government’s response, Building the Pathway to Improved Northern Basin Connectivity (September 2024), outline steps to strengthen ecological connectivity and waterway resilience across the Basin.