Northern Basin Connectivity Program

Water flowing across connected catchments supports essential human and ecological needs.  The Barwon-Darling River receives more than 90% of its flows from upstream catchments in northern NSW (Border Rivers, Gwydir, Namoi and Macquarie) and Queensland. This mainly occurs during large flows.

The Northern Basin Connectivity Program is undertaking actions to enable water to flow across connected catchments of the northern NSW Murray-Darling Basin and downstream at important times for the following outcomes:

• protect the first flush of water after an extended dry period to protect critical human and environmental needs and support recovery post droughts
• reduce the impact of cease-to-flow periods and improve low-flow connectivity
• support water quality and reduce the risk of algal blooms forming
• support fish migration.

This program builds on the range of connectivity reforms of the NSW Government over recent years including the protection of low flows in the Barwon-Darling, regulating floodplain harvesting, and progressing work on removing unapproved flood works in high priority areas to allow water to flow more easily across the landscape.

The department has completed initial analysis of potential water sharing plan rules that would result in the implementation of the Connectivity Expert Panel’s recommendations. This is to help understand the potential hydrologic, environmental and economic benefits and impacts of any changes. The department will progressively release the results of the analysis.

It is important to note that recommendations in the Panel’s report were made independent of government and are not government policy.  No decision has been made on what steps the NSW Government will take to improve connectivity into the Barwon-Darling River. The findings and recommendation of the Panel are just one of many considerations.  

The department is releasing the results of the analysis and will now meet with key stakeholders to discuss findings and hear their input and issues. We will use these discussions and further analyses to help develop government options for improving connectivity leading on from the Panel’s recommendations. These options will be released for consultation in 2026.

Supporting documents

1. Analysis of the Connectivity Expert Panel Recommendations: Information paper PDF, 25316.18 KB -  brings together key results from four supporting reports that examine the hydrologic, environmental, and economic benefits and impacts of the Panel’s recommendations.
2. Assessment of hydrologic modelling PDF, 14360.83 KB - hydrologic modelling that was completed to assess the Connectivity Expert Panel’s recommendations and objectives
3. Assessment of environmental water requirements PDF, 20723.26 KB - Environmental water requirements analysis of the Connectivity Expert Panel’s recommendations for improving connectivity in the northern Basin.
4. Draft method to categorise priority unregulated water sources PDF, 2282.87 KB - draft method to categorise water sources and determine potential changes to access rules in unregulated water sharing plans.

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While government options to improve connectivity are being finalised, temporary water restrictions may be used to protect the first flows after dry periods to meet critical human and environmental needs. If deemed necessary, these temporary water restrictions would be implemented using Section 324 of the Water Management Act 2000 and may be guided by the critical dry conditions triggers published in the Western Regional Water Strategy.