Various water sources in the northern Murray–Darling Basin Order (No.1) 2026

The trigger for implementing the restrictions is when the active storage volume in the upper lakes in the Menindee Lakes System falls below 250 gigalitres (GL). By ‘upper lakes’ we mean the water stored in lakes Tandure, Wetherell, Pamamaroo and Copi Hollow. ‘Active’ water refers to water that can be released from the lakes and excludes water in dead storage that is below outlet levels.

For the period in which the s324 temporary water restrictions are in place, river pumping and floodplain harvesting take is not permitted under licences in the water sources and with the categories listed in Table 1 and Table 2, or in the declared floodplains and circumstances listed in Table 3. This will allow replenishment of the lakes to provide for town water supplies, supply to high priority users, and provide for critical environmental needs.

Note that clause 43 of the Water Sharing Plan for the Barwon-Darling Unregulated River Water Source 2026 already restricts floodplain harvesting in the plan area when the active storage in the upper lakes falls below 250 GL which is why it does not appear in the Table 2.

A summary of the temporary water restrictions by valley is below. Alternatively, you can download the summary.

•  Summary of the temporary water restrictions by valley.

The restrictions do not apply to basic landholder rights, licences with other categories such as Domestic and Stock licences, general or high security, or licence exemptions, such as a landholder taking rainfall runoff from a tailwater drain. 

Exemptions from these restrictions include:

• water taken for testing metering equipment, so that the prohibitions do not hamper compliance with the non-urban metering rules
• water taken by water storages such as farm dams as this cannot reasonably be avoided, and it is generally difficult or not possible for the water to be returned to the water source
• water taken by tailwater return systems, which keep potentially contaminated runoff on-farm
• water which is captured by passive means which cannot reasonably be avoided, such as below ground irrigation channels, but only if the water is substantially returned to the water source. 
   

The temporary water restriction order is in place until 30 September 2026. 

While the order is in place:

• the restrictions will be lifted if the active storage in the upper lakes of the Menindee Lakes System rises above 250 GL
• the restrictions will apply again if the active storage in the upper lakes of the Menindee Lakes System falls below 250 GL. 
   

Yes, some water can be taken from higher flows as specified in the tables below. These are referred to as ‘relaxation flow thresholds’. 

Table 4 lists the water source or management zone where floodplain harvesting take can occur if the relaxation flow thresholds for that water source or management zone are met or exceeded.

Table 5 lists the Barwon-Darling relaxation flow thresholds that need to be met or exceeded for take to be allowed using a licence with the specified category.

Table 6 lists the relaxation flow thresholds that need to be met or exceeded for take of overland flow water to be allowed within the Lower Namoi Valley Floodplain. 

Table 7 lists the relaxation flow thresholds that need to be met or exceeded for take to be allowed under a supplementary access licence in the Macquarie Valley. 

These relaxation flow thresholds will address any potential risks regarding the passive take of water, possible unavoidable crop inundation, and allows floodwater to be moved within a property to where it poses less risk – these are the same relaxation flow thresholds that are in the water sharing plans. They are also based on the environmental water requirements identified in long term watering plans for small or large freshes.

If flows in the relevant water source, management zone or floodplain fall below the relaxation flow thresholds listed in tables 4, 5, 6, or 7 AND the upper lakes are below 250 GL active storage, then the restrictions on take continue to apply.

The flows and volumes used to implement, lift, or allow some water take are based on actual flow data.

The restrictions in the s324 order are more stringent than the normal water sharing plans. When the restrictions in the order do not apply, the normal water sharing plan rules apply. This is particularly relevant for any environmental water that reaches the Barwon-Darling. If environmental water causes the Bourke or Wilcannia relaxation flow thresholds to be triggered, the water sharing plan rules will apply and active management of that e-water will occur.

The department and the Minister for Water have been working closely with the MDBA to ensure that any call-on-water from the upper lakes is strictly limited to only the water necessary to maintain water quality conditions that are critical for fish health.  

If drought conditions worsen across NSW after these restrictions have lapsed, further restrictions may be implemented if it is deemed necessary, and in the public interest. 

Water users are required to pass back the water to the water source to the extent possible, and are prohibited from moving the water into a water storage. 

Water users are encouraged to keep accurate records of any occasion where floodplain water passively moves into their water supply works, and how and when this water is being passed back to the water source and/or to demonstrate that it has not otherwise been moved into storages. The in-valley relaxation flow thresholds have been included in the order to reduce the risk of this happening. Rainfall runoff that is collected in tailwater drains when no other overland flow is being taken is exempt from licensing and not impacted by this temporary water restriction order. 

You can find daily information on the Menindee Lakes storage volumes and flows at the gauges at WaterInsights - WaterNSW

For the triggers to lift the restrictions, the relevant gauges are:

• Bourke: Darling River at Bourke Town gauge [425003]
• Wilcannia: Darling River at Wilcannia Main Channel gauge [425008]
   

Recommendation 1 – Develop first flush arrangements

• These arrangements are the first step in the development of enduring solutions. The Connectivity Expert Panel has provided updated advice to Government. After consultation on this work, amendments will be made to water sharing plans (WSPs). This current restriction represents a temporary arrangement until these enduring solutions commence in WSPs.

Recommendation 3 – Evidence-based methodology 

• The evidence-base for the implementing trigger can be found in the Western Regional Water Strategy.  
• More enduring solutions are being developed through the Connectivity Program using the best available evidence. The evidence-base for proposed changes will be provided during public consultation processes. 

Recommendation 5 – Publishing guidance materials on managing first flush events

• Providing the material above that outlines how temporary water restrictions may be used to manage first flush events satisfies this recommendation. 

Recommendation 6 – Make temporary water restrictions on a pro-active basis (before rain is forecast)

• Publication of the triggers for implementing and lifting restrictions as we head toward drought conditions enhances the ability of water users and communities to plan their activities and minimise any potential adverse effects of restrictions.

Recommendation 7 – Embed the management of first flush in regulatory and policy framework

• The triggers for implementing temporary water restrictions are being reviewed as part of the Connectivity Program. Public consultation is a requirement of the process to amend WSPs. Once the process is complete, this recommendation will be completed.
• Progress on implementation of all the recommendations from the Assessment report can be found at Northern Basin First Flush Assessment | Water (nsw.gov.au) 

• The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) will monitor the systems using a combination of satellite imagery techniques, spatial and temporal data analysis and river flow management tools.
• NRAR also has a number of compliance officers on the ground and will respond to reports of any suspected pumping during the restriction. Penalties for illegal pumping are high.