WaterNSW held an information session seeking to clear up dam and river operations in the Macquarie-Cudgegong valley and the situation driving them.
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Executive Manager System Operation, Adrian Langdon, said that the purpose was to “give people information that’s accurate so we can have an accurate conversation”.
“I think we need to be presenting and be available so that it’s clear and transparent what’s occurring so the community can understand what we’re trying to achieve,” he said.
That includes putting the scale of the current drought in perspective causing record low inflows into Burrendong and the need for bulk water transfers.
“The main thing we’re trying to get people to understand is the current situation and what’s actually driving the situation we’re in,” he said. What we’ve seen from a lot of people is that intensity of the drought compared to others isn’t well known in the community,” he added. “And what we’ve been doing in the last couple of days has been increasing the awareness of what’s actually driving this situation and trying to make people understand that the drought we’re feeling across northern NSW is the worst on record. It’s actually worse than the Millennium Drought by a factor of 25 per cent.”
We're trying to make people understand that the drought we’re feeling across northern NSW is the worst on record.
- Adrian Langdon, WaterNSW
The Cudgegong river is at Stage 1 of the drought or water shortage extreme events management process at ‘normal’, but the Macquarie is at Stage 3 getting closer to the fourth and highest stage.
“We’ve still got normal operations going through the Cudgegong, the Macquarie on the other hand we’re engaging with local utilities at the moment because we’re really getting to the point where we’re managing for human needs,” Mr Langdon, said.
With the numerous competing interests dependent on on the Macquarie and Cudgegong, there are opportunities for users to provide their feedback.
The Critical Water Advisory Panel meeting with Macquarie Valley stakeholders – which include Cudgegong – in Dubbo in February, to understand the broader impacts of the drought on the community. And what drought management needs the government should be looking at.
The Water Sharing Plan is currently being reviewed, more information at nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw/have-your-say/macquarie-castlereagh-surface-water.
Macquarie Valley information is updated regularly during the drought at waternsw.com.au