GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION

Events

The NSW Government has launched the Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Policy 2020 for the northern Murray–Darling Basin - Wednesday, 19 August 2020, 10:30am - 12:30pm.

The policy applies to landholders in the northern Murray–Darling Basin who will receive a floodplain harvesting water-access license under the NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy (2018) in 2021 and will allow water harvested from northern Basin floodplains to be accurately and reliably measured for the first time.

The NSW Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Policy will be rolled out in stages and water users will be required to comply with the floodplain harvesting measurement rules by July 2021 or July 2022, depending on their onsite storage capacity.

The NSW Government released the NSW Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Policy 2020. This announcement provides one of the missing pieces to understand how NSW plan to manage this access under a licencing regime, which is due for implementation by 1 July next year in the Gwydir Valley. We e have been calling on the policy for some time, so that water users have due time to meet their obligations.
“The policy is an ambitious program but an important step forward in water management that our local industry has been committed for a long time to achieve.”
Photo: Storage device already installed on an empty storage, waiting for the drought to break.

Follow the link to the recent GRDC Irrigation update with input from Nick Gillingham from Keytah and Lou Gall from GVIA. There was also a great presentation from Matthew Harrison on WaterCan Profit. Thank you to GRDC and ICAN for the opportunity to participate. 

Smarter Irrigation for Profit Phase II is a partnership between the irrigation industry, research organisations and farmer groups, the objective of which is to improve the profit of over 4,000 cotton, dairy, rice, grains and sugar irrigators. There are 14 sub projects including: New irrigation technologies such as new sensors, advanced analytics to improve irrigation scheduling and strategies to reduce water storage evaporation. Cost effective, practical automated irrigation systems and a network of 36 farmer led optimised irrigation sites such as Keytah here in the Gwydir. We have just launched our new web page for of videos and project information. .  

Feral Pig management support

The Feral Pig monitoring program supported by the NSW Government and the NW LLS is drawing to a close. We have conducted a range of monitoring and management activities including collaring and tagging pigs, trapping and shooting.  As we move into our winter cropping season pig damage will become more evident, especially as many pregnant sows have been observed. The GVIA can provide support to local landholders who participate in group control activities and would appreciate information on crop damage caused by feral pigs. Please contact us for more information. 

An independent panel has released a draft report on the management of the 2020 northern Murray-Darling Basin first flush event that restricted access in the Gwydir Valley to unregulated, supplementary and floodplain harvesting in February 2020. 
The panel is seeking community feedback on its draft report following an earlier public consultation in May 2020 and are hosting an online webinar with their draft results on Monday, 27 July at 1pm. 
Its encouraged all members should participate.
Limited capacity is available in the GVIA office to attend due to COVID restrictions, please contact the office.

Water NSW has released an updated version of the surface water and groundwater assignment forms for undertaking allocation trades to capture  updated information regarding water trades.  It is important that you utilise these updated form via the Water NSW website.

NSW Department has announced the starting allocations for water users for the new water year 2020-2021 with all water users (Stock and Domestic, Towns, High Security, Supplementary and Unregulated  in the surface water systems and Groundwater) receiving 100% except General Security users.  General Security water users have access to ongoing carryover water of 12GL for water users  and 31GL for environmental water holders via the NSW DPIE-W.

The Water Management Act 2000 in Section 4A describes overland flow as water including floodwater, rainfall runoff and urban stormwater that his flowing over or lying on the ground as a result of rain or any other kind of precipitation.  That means that anyone who has infrastructure developments to capture, manage and/or store water on their farms and who irrigate with this water, can also be collecting overland flow, not just those in the five northern valleys who are "floodplain harvesters".  This definition is regardless of any other requirements of other NSW regulations (such as the NSW EPA Act) and various licence conditions, to capture and retain water on farm to avoid environmental impacts. 

Unfortunately in NSW there are a few remaining long-term legacy issues, the fact water management is coordinated through two legislative frameworks is one of them.  That means that some approvals, rules and extraction is managed according to rules within the original NSW Water Act 1912 but the majority are within the contemporary regime of the NSW Water Management Act 2000. 
Government inaction has meant that the majority of irrigation infrastructure and flood work approvals are yet to be converted into the new legislative framework.  This has been an on-going issue for more than 20-years.  But this is important when considering the "legal status" of floodplain harvesting in NSW, which is one of the last forms of extraction to be converted from the descriptive allowances in the Water Act 1912 into volumetric licences in the Water Management Act 2000, which is due for completed next year.  Just because its not managed or represented within the Water Management Act, doesn't make it illegal, if its allowed under the Water Act 1912. 
This is why its important the Healthy Floodplains Project is completed on time next year, to bring this historical form of extraction into the same licensing framework as others and enable government to better regulate, measure and report on it.  Its proper implementation will cap extraction within historic limits, ensure the sustainability of the industry but also leaving more water on the floodplain.

The department, together with WaterNSW, will be holding public information sessions via webinar during May and June 2020 with the session for the Norther region, including the Gwydir on 28 May 2020. See the link below to register for this presentation.

The sessions will provide an update on the water availability outlook, climatic trends, system flows and storages levels. Lessons learnt from the current drought and the impacts of drought on groundwater will be discussed, as well as ongoing support available for communities.

Water availability including prospects for allocations for the new water year starting July 1 2020 will also be discussed.

The NSW Government has appointed an independent panel to assess what improvements can be made to better manage the use, communication and application of temporary restrictions like those used in February 2020.   These restrictions were used to manage the first major water flows following rainfall across the northern Murray-Darling after record drought conditions.

The panel is now seeking feedback from the community on their views and experiences in relation to the first flush event and suggestions on the future management of these events. They invite you to make a submission or give your feedback by completing the survey available on the review website.  

The GVIA will be providing our own feedback via this survey, and we encourage members and all stakeholders affected by these events, to directly provide their own individual experiences and feedback to the panel.   

All submissions are due this Thursday, 14th May for the farm-scale validation, eligibility and infrastructure submissions to floodplain.harvesting@dpi.nsw.gov.au.  Note any extensions must be requested in writing and agreed to prior to the submission closing date.  
This is a valuable step and it doesn't have to be complicated.  
These submissions are your responsibility to complete and submit.  But we are here to provide guidance to you where we can, please do not hesitate to email or contact Zara to discuss.  

DPIE-W announced the Gwydir Valley received it’s first allocation since February 2018 with 1.9% allocation (or 10.56GL) issued to water users including the environment.  Inflows into Copeton Dam since February this year are greater than 60% of the total inflows into the dam over the last 2.5 years. 

The allocation announcement together with a full reserve essential supplies reserve (for two years) in Copeton Dam and recent supplementary availability below the dam, signals for the first-time in years that the whole catchment has a good soil moisture and any rain should generate flows into our river systems.  Whilst the drought hasn’t broken, it’s a good start for water users and the region.       

In a world first, the government is using LiDAR to construct images to estimate the volume of floodplain harvesting captured in private water storages in the Northern Basin valleys as reported in The Land last week.  The article said "There is a combined capacity of 1450 gigalitres within 1386 private on-farm storages across the Northern Basin, which are filled infrequently and only during wet periods." and Minister for Water, Ms Pavey said "...the department is able to determine both the capacity and volume held in private on-farm storages with much greater accuracy....Using this technology, we were able to assess the volume of floodplain harvesting was around 20GL during this time [the temporary restriction in February 2020]. Now, over 380GL has made it to the Menindee Lakes, reconnecting the Lower Darling to the Murray River for the first time since 2016," she said. 
We think it's important that the NSW Government release results like this, to build confidence and show their significant investment in FPH monitoring and compliance. As we know, floodplain harvesting opportunity arises in a flood, when there is plenty of water available for everyone.  These results demonstrates this fact, with take only 5% of the total flow measured at Menindee Lakes, more than 1000km of river channel and floodplain downstream, with no impact to the achievement of the targets for critical needs required at the time.

As the current season is drawing to a close and winter planting is getting underway, the Smarter Irrigation for Profit researchers are looking to see  what you want to know more about with regards irrigation. We have developed a 4 question survey and would love your input. 
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SIP2_Webinar

With recent catchment rainfall, water availability has improved across the catchment with inflows into Copeton Dam as well as approximately 10% Supplementary allocation available from inflows below the Dam.  The region has moved down to Stage 2 for Drought Management, due to the forecast of 2-years supply of all essential water requirements including towns.  A small deficit for General Security delivery remains and must be addressed prior to any new allocations.

Industry has developed a simple farm validation tool to assist members in interpreting the Department's farm-scale validation data as part of the Healthy Floodplain program.  We have also compiled a list of questions and things to consider with the  aim of providing you support in determining whether you need to prepare a submission to amend any information of not.

Note individuals must submit by the new deadline of 14 May 2020, directly to the Department or have requested a further extension, prior to this date.   

NSW Government has released the draft Terms of Reference into their Independent Assessment into the First Flush in the northern basin -  the management and communication of  temporary restrictions implemented in February 2020 to achieve flow outcomes within the valley and downstream in the Barwon-Darling. There is an opportunity to provide input into the review via a multi-step submission process, starting with the Terms of Reference. The GVIA will be working on suggestions to improve the terms including ensuring the panel has relevant technical input into the effectiveness of the event by considering northern basin hydrology and flows.

Webinar for all eligible floodplain harvesters

DPIE- W will be hosting a webinar on Friday 27th March, 10am-12pm for all eligible floodplain harvesters in the Gwydir Valley to provide information on:
- Letters that are being sent out at the end of March, which will detail your eligible floodplain harvesting works and other information that will be used to determine a floodplain harvesting entitlement for your farm.
- The submissions process.
- Next steps in the Healthy Floodplains Project.
Invitations were sent by the Department on Friday, please contact the GVIA if you did not receive this email via gvia@gvia.org.au or the floodplain.harvesting@dpi.nsw.gov.au. 




GVIA Office Closed

With the response to Covid-19, the GVIA office is now closed and staff are rotating being in the office. Appointment can be made if required.  Our work continues and both Zara and Lou are still available by phone; 02 67521399 or email. Please dont hesitate to contact us. Stay safe and well. Thank You 

The GVIA represents in excess of 450 water entitlement holders in the Gwydir Valley. The organisation works to represent the interests of our members and secure a viable future for our region through ensuring water rights are protected and water use by members, the environment and our river operators is efficient and sustainable.  We work together to build a better future for our region and make every drop count. 
Our role provides a voice for our industry and region to decision makers, our local community and the broader public. This can involve writing and commenting on policy proposals, inquiries and participating in meetings with key stakeholders including Ministers and Department staff.  We take seriously our role in improving grower research and innovation in our industry.

Gwydir Field day cancelled

The Gwydir Field Day planned for tomorrow has had to be cancelled. We apologise for the inconvenience. 

The Gwydir CGA would like to invite you to join us for the 2020 Gwydir Field Day.
The field day will provide an opportunity to look at some new and innovative technologies including the CSD variety trials, XtendFlex , a machine vision app for insect management and the canopy temperature sensors. There will be an update from the CSIRO breeding team and the NSW DPI water productivity benchmarking project.

This statement is provided as a response to concerns raised due to misinformation regarding northern embargoes and floodplain harvesting.
Our organisation supports the need for a first flush to provide flow for critical human needs.  We also are on record requesting greater transparency around the decision to utilise, amend and remove temporary pumping restrictions in NSW.  This process must be undertaken with a clear methodology, based on fact and science and communicated communities both up and downstream. 

On the back of last week’s bureaucratic bungling, Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association are warning that the lack of responsiveness by government and transparent processes are sacrificing our farmers and wasting precious water.

Once again this week our farmers have been crucified on the back of bureaucratic bungling. On late Friday afternoon, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's Water division applied an embargo for the first time on overland flow via a text message.  Whilst the sentiment of this decision to protect flows for critical human needs is supported by northern communities, it is the level of disregard for how a natural system behaves during extreme weather events such as a flood and the lack of consultation about rule changes that has farmers fuming. 

Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association together with Namoi Water have provided the following statement regarding the current management of river flows and localised flooding in parts of our valleys.  This statement will be progressively updated as more information becomes available.
 
There is no question that we and our communities support the importance of connectivity flows in drought. We fully support flows to provide critical human needs.

 

NSW DPIEW informed users via the EWN that they have lifted temporary water restrictions on unregulated water users in the Mehi subcatchment (until 17 February 2020), this adds to the lifting of restrictions in the Millie and Thalaba sub-catchments in the south-western section of Gwydir Valley.  Restrictions to floodplain harvesting activities in the Mehi and Thalaba sub catchments have also been lifted. These expire on 12th February 2020. 
Reasons for the decision are stated as being: over the last 2 days there has been in excess of 150mm of rain in lower Gwydir. Flows in the Mehi River are at 4000ML/day and 4,500ML/day in Moomin. Flows in the Barwon Darling are at 9000ML day at Collarenabri and 5000ML day at Tara. Flows from the Mehi are backing up due to high flows in the Barwon Darling.
Most flow targets have been met, and is now expected that targets at Brewarrina, and possibly Bourke, will also be met.
The main intent of lifting this order to minimise flood impacts, and allow farmers to move water around their property.   

Water NSW have expanded their Early Warning Network to manage notifications for temporary restrictions to pumping conditions (in addition to dam safety and flood notifications).  It is recommended all water users subscribe to this process to be sent an email and SMS on any announcements from Water NSW regarding access arrangements. 

DPIEW have lifted the restrictions to unregulated licence access in the Thalaba and Millie Creek Subcatchments as of 9:53pm tonight.  This is because of high rainfall in the lower part of the Gwydir valley has resulted in the public interest test being met for these water sources, and unregulated take from the above water sources will not materially impact on downstream flows in the Barwon Darling.
To receive updates on temporary restrictions, you must register for the Early Warning Network here.
Contact the office for more information.

The NSW Government has enacted a temporary restriction on floodplain harvesting across the northern basin to preserve any flows in the northern river system for towns, stock and domestic supply and the environment. This temporary restriction order will apply to the take of water for the purpose of floodplain harvesting, except in the case where the take of water is rainfall runoff from irrigated areas with tailwater return drains or water cannot be reasonably prevented i.e. it is passive take.  You will need to refer to the exemption details via the Department's website.  We will forward any further information when it becomes available. 

The Gwydir Cotton Growers Association would like to invite you to join us for the 2020 Gwydir Field Day which will be showcasing new and innovative technologies including the CSD variety trials, XtendFlex , a machine vision app for insect management and the canopy temperature sensor. There will be discussion on the impact of temperature and climate on cotton production as well as an update from the CSIRO breeding team.
RSVP to Secretary@gwydircotton.com.au or call Lou on 0427 521 498 or 02 6752 1399

Following months (and months) of requests from groups like ourselves, our local council and chamber of commerce for support for our farm related businesses, the Australian Government through the Regional Investment Corporation has announced and opened the AgBiz Drought loans which aims to support regional Australians to take control of their business through the drought.  There are conditions and eligibility requirements for the loan.  For more information visit the RIC website.  Thank you to our local members who advocated for broadening drought support from the farm gate.

Please be aware DPIE have issues a Section 324 water restriction under the NSW Water Management Act in anticipation of potential natural inflows into the regions water systems this is for unregulated, general security and supplementary licences.  Details are to be provided on the DPIE website.  This order does not include current water orders in the system and high security deliveries.  Exemptions to test metering equipment are expected to exist and procedures must be followed as per the gazette.

The GVIA were excited to help coordinate and host two year 12 students in Moree as part of the University of New England's Growing Regional and Agricultural Students in Science (UNE GRASS) program. They have been getting their hands dirty these school holidays, learning about all facets of the cotton industry directly from those involved in all areas. Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School student Harry Page from Goondiwindi and Calrossy Anglican School student Matt Tomlinson from Bellata have spent the past week in the Gwydir Valley, gaining a broad exposure to the possible career opportunities in the Australian cotton industry.

With the anticipation of rain forecast by the BOM, its important that water users are aware of the conditions around water access in the event we receive river system inflows.  There are currently deliveries within the system that would need to be satisfied, as with the provision of stock and domestic and basic landholder right flows to systems that have not received any substantial flows to-date.  To ensure you are up to date, please check the Department of Industry website for any temporary restrictions.
We note that previous restrictions have made allowances to test metering equipment for a limited volume of no more than 1ML provided the duly qualified person, undertaking the testing informs NRAR.  This information will be available on the Government Gazette if a restriction is put in place.  

Current water availability has been updated for regulated and groundwater usage and allocations this year, which groundwater usage remaining below limits and no new allocations being made. The only deliveries from Copeton Dam have been for critical water needs for high security users (both irrigators and the environment) and general security carried over for environmental purposes, which is being dam wall debited.  Copeton Dam received minor inflows and remains steady to increasing, despite releases being made.  These releases are visible in the Mehi and Lower Gwydir systems.  The GVIA have also updated our historical availability section of the website, to include an analysis of supplementary access as well.

Irrigators in the Gwydir Valley have had zero allocation of general security or supplementary water this year. A small limited announcement was made last week.  Any irrigated annual crops being grown this season are grown on groundwater. No general security water was permitted to be delivered this year.  Permanent plantings are supported by high security water which was delivered via bulk releases and groundwater.

WaterNSW recently provided an update on river operations outlook and water availability for the Gwydir Valley as part of the River Operations Stakeholder Consultative Committee and the Customer Advisory Group meetings that coincided with the regional drought updates.  A snap shot of these updates are provided in the link below, or you can visit the WaterNSW website for regional drought updates and operations updates. 

The GVIA will be monitoring groundwater usage over the season against the existing water sharing plan compliance rules and the proposed rules in the draft Lower Gwydir Groundwater water sharing plan to assess our performance against these triggers.  It would be of assistance that all active groundwater users update their meter reads through iWAS, as these updates are recorded on the register as usage.  Ensure your account is up to date before updating iWAS.  Updates will be provided via the following member page.

The NSW and Commonwealth Governments are undertaking environmental water delivery across the Gwydir, Mehi and Carole systems to replenish large river pools which act as fish refuge throughout the summer of 2019-20.  Initial environmental water releases are being used to restart the rivers after an extended period of no flow. After river startup, flows will be in combination with WaterNSW releases for stock and domestic flows down the systems. Visit this page to see the updates. 

The Gwydir is characterised as having low water reliability, in the last 10-years irrigators have accessed only 19% of river inflows for General Security use and 8% for supplementary.  The majority of water held as general security water with a reliability of 36%. Supplementary water entitlement is somewhat more reliable with 55% but accounts for less than a quarter of the total volume.  There is around 40,000ML available as high security or groundwater entitlement which is considered highly reliable.
General Security water is stored in Copeton dam, derived from rainfall and river flow above the dam.
Supplementary water is unregulated flows downstream of the dam, it is only announced after environmental flows to the wetlands. After that all remaining flows are shared equally between the environment and licence holders (including environmental licence holders)

The NSW Government has updated their Drought Information page with new information on how they are managing water and critical water shortages right around the state.  It reads "The areas experiencing the worst effects of this drought are the northern Murray-Darling Basin and the Lower Darling. Inflows to each of the major northern inland NSW regulated rivers are now the lowest on record. Northern NSW has experienced many two-year periods of sustained low inflows. We’re now entering an unprecedented third year." For more facts behind the drought and river management options, visit their page and look through the critical valleys and their management or the other information sources.

A reminder to all members that require regulated Stock and Domestic deliveries (releases from Copeton Dam) that you must place a stock and domestic order with WaterNSW prior to pumping.  We are coordinating with WaterNSW to include requirements as part of planned environmental deliveries, which will occur to some sections of the Mehi, Gwydir and Carole systems.  We are working on a delivery program following feedback for the Moomin and for lower sections of the Mehi, only at this stage.  Placing a water order with WaterNSW should be undertaken no later than 9:00am Friday the 1st November to enable deliveries to be scheduled with current releases.

The GVIA has a total of four parcels of Lower Gwydir Groundwater allocation parcels for temporary trade currently open.  Offers in $/ML and identifying what parcels  can be placed by emailing gvia@gvia.org.au by the due date.  Visit the members page for more information.

The independent expert panel appointed to study the social and economic conditions affecting communities in the Murray-Darling Basin will be in Moree on  Friday 18th October 2019 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm at the Town and Country Club, 5 Frome St.
The panel wants to hear from communities to assess how lived experience aligns with analysis and research, understand key trends, drivers and impacts from water reform, and learn of community-led ideas and solutions.
Please register your interest in attending by email to: Independentpanel@mdba.gov.au stating that you will be attending the Moree session. Thank you.

The NSW and Commonwealth Governments have significant natural assets in our region - NSW is responsible for land and water and the Commonwealth are the largest single water entitlement owner in the valley.  While a farmer is financially accountable for their decisions and socially accountable as custodians to manage their land - not to mention the rules and regulations they must abide by. Who are our government's accountable to when they make decisions on how they manage their assets? It's the community!
Zara Lowien said "Its important that the community are aware of what is done with the water that is delivered to these areas and how those decisions are made"...

Today, the NSW Government announced that the it will adjust the first three start dates for the new metering rules, meaning the first roll-out date for larger than 500mm pipe diameters is now 1 December 2020.  This announcement, while welcomed and well-overdue, unfortunately fails to acknowledge that the NSW Government has failed to outline to water users what data logger or telemetry devices are approved for installation as part of the new regulations.  This decision is still pending. 

Today, the GVIA launched two videos calling on the NSW Government to finalise their decision regarding changes to the NSW Non-urban Water Metering Regulations that were consulted on back in August 2019.  Executive Officer, Zara Lowien said "it's now less than two-months before the first deadline for water users to ensure their metering equipment meets the new rules and no one knows what data logger or telemetry units are approved for installation.  Without this decision,  no water user in NSW can be compliant.  Farmers all around NSW are under enough pressure already, enough is enough".   

On Sunday 29th September Landline featured a story on the pig monitoring project that was completed in the Berrigal Creek region over the last three years. The collars used in that project are now in use for the GVIA project.
We have eight collared pigs and a camera grid monitoring pig movements in our region, as shown in the image of the collared boar. Area wide control activities will begin in the next few weeks. If we are to achieve our target 80-90% control we need everyone to be involved in effective control activities. 

Groups across the northern basin communities would like to correct several claims made during an interview with Michael Condon on the ABC’s ‘Country Hour’ on 2 September 2019. These statements are demonstrably false, and not supported by any evidence. The fact that they were broadcast without challenge points to the lack of knowledge of water issues and the tendency to perpetuate opinion as fact, as in other recent ABC programs.

From the 20th to the 26th of September Moree will host a number of innovative Agtech founders. The intention is to connect these Agtech businesses with farmers to ensure that the products and services being developed align with the needs of farmers. The tour includes an irrigation tour, a cotton research tour and broadacre and livestock tours in the Moree region. With a wrap up Pitch night at BAMM on Thursday 25th September. 
For more information please contact Brooke Sauer 0427 090 279 or brooke@intellectag.com

Water availability has been updated following the recent resource assessment, availability for irrigation has increased due to trade of high security allocations into the general security pool.  Currently there is 3GL available in irrigation general security accounts but with limited deliverability and 35GL for environmental water managers.  We remain in Stage 3 of drought management as the Copeton Dam holds predominately critical water supplies only.

The GVIA has Gwydir Regulated General Security (400ML) and Lower Gwydir Groundwater (16ML) of allocations for expression of a price per megalitre for each parcel by 12pm Monday, 23 September 2019 by emailing gvia@gvia.org.au.

Come and join B&W Rural for a BBQ lunch at 12:30pm, Friday 13 September 2019 at the B&W Rural Office.
B&W Rural will have representatives from N-Drip giving a demonstration and talk about their new gravity fed drip irrigation technology. This has the potential for labour savings and huge water savings in years to come. See flyers attached and the below link for more information.
Please RSVP by 9am Friday to Loretta Menzies; p: (02) 6750 7000 | e: Loretta.Menzies@elders.com.au

Members should note that the NSW Government are holding consultation regarding the proposed Floodplain Harvesting Action Plan for the final stages of implementing the Healthy Floodplains program.  The closest consultation session is Narrabri on Monday, 9 September (next week).  The GVIA will set up the webinar for members to attend on Wednesday, 18th September in our office if you wish to view the presentation that way. We encourage all members that have on-farm storage infrastructure to attend this consultation, regardless of whether you are currently eligible for a floodplain harvesting licence or not.  A summary and links to the Peer Review and Action Plan is available via the members only section.

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Water Division late Friday night released their final version of their Independent Review of Floodplain Harvesting Policy Implementation as well as the NSW Government’s Floodplain Harvesting Action Plan to respond to this advice. The NSW Government will also be holding public consultation on these documents, due to start in Narrabri on Monday, 9 September 2019.
We’ve asked for regional DPIE offices to be set up to access the webinar on Wednesday 18th for those that cannot make one of the locations.  For GVIA members, our office will be set up with the webinar. 
Zara Lowien, Executive Officer of the Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association, said it’s important that anyone in NSW that has a dam that can collect rainfall runoff from across their farm, considers attending a consultation session or the webinar.

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