Barwon-Darling Unregulated River Water Source

• There is currently no water sharing plan in place for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated River Water Source
• Without a plan in place, the active management provisions of the plan that protect held environmental water from extraction cannot be implemented
• This temporary water restriction order will protect active held environmental water in the Barwon-Darling, consistent with the provisions of the water sharing plan, up until 30 June 2026, or sooner if the water sharing plan commences.
• Water users will see no changes to the current announcements made on Water Insights, other than an increase in cease to pump levels, if active environmental water is being protected

Where can I get more information?

Water users should check:

• Water Insights for daily flow announcements at WaterInsights - WaterNSW.
• Copy of letter sent to licence holders.
• Download the Temporary Water Restriction (Barwon-Darling Unregulated River Water Source) Order 2025

Reasons for decision

Temporary water restriction (section 324 order) in relation to active management of environmental water in the Barwon-Darling Unregulated River Water Source.

Background

Active management was introduced in the Barwon-Darling in December 2020 to enable held environmental water (HEW) to be protected from extraction by other water users. It does this by adjusting daily access arrangements to account for volumes of HEW that have been delivered from upstream or nominated for protection within the Barwon-Darling. Active management allows access to be maintained for other water users while ensuring that environmental water can achieve its intended outcomes, such as reconnecting river systems, supporting native fish movement and spawning, and contributing to flows into Menindee Lakes.

Under normal circumstances, active management is implemented through provisions of the water sharing plan, in accordance with the Active Management Procedures Manual. These provide for expressions of interest (EOIs) by licence holders, and adjustments to available water (and therefore, daily flow class and Individual Daily Extraction Components) based on the volume of active environmental water (AEW) to be protected.

Since the Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated River Water Source 2012 expired on 30 June 2025, the Department and WaterNSW have not been able to implement active management of environmental water in the Barwon-Darling. 
A temporary water restriction, under section 324 of the Water Management Act 2000, will be imposed to protect active environmental water, in line with previous arrangements, until the new water sharing plan is made. 

The order restricts water take by holders of unregulated river (A Class) access licences, unregulated river (B Class) access licences, and unregulated river (C Class) access licences in the Barwon-Darling Unregulated River Water Source, in line with the flow class announcements published by WaterNSW on the WaterInsights website and the daily flow share volumes communicated to licence holders through the online Water Accounting System (iWAS).

Reasons for decision

Section 324 of the Water Management Act 2000 allows the Minister or delegate to order that temporary water restrictions within a water source(s) are to have effect for a specified period, if these restrictions are determined to be in the public interest. 
Examples of the public interest referred to in section 324(1) are “to cope with a water shortage, threat to public health or safety or to manage water for environmental purposes”. 
It is in the public interest to make an order to allow active management of environmental water in the Barwon-Darling while there is no water sharing plan in place, for the following reasons: 

• it allows use of water which has been recovered for the environment, including under Basin Plan recovery programs;
• it allows protection of held environmental water arriving from upstream river systems, including the Macquarie and (under a new arrangement) Queensland via the Intersecting Streams;
• active environmental water supports river health, connectivity and ecological outcomes (including for native fish) throughout the Northern Basin and Barwon-Darling downstream to the Menindee Lakes;
• protection of active environmental water is consistent with interjurisdictional commitments including the Northern Basin Toolkit; and
• it will contribute to water held in Menindee Lakes for use under the North–South Connectivity Trial, which will benefit the Lower Darling downstream to the Murray. 

The order will make use of existing, well-established procedures and systems, and will not restrict water access beyond what is required to protect these volumes of active environmental water. 

Accordingly, the section 324 order is being made to protect active environmental water from extraction in the Barwon-Darling Unregulated River Water Source. It will remain in place until 30 June 2026 or until the new Barwon-Darling water sharing plan is made; whichever comes earlier.
 

Amanda Jones
Deputy Secretary
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

24 December 2025