GWYDIR VALLEY IRRIGATORS ASSOCIATION

News

The Management zones and ecological assets associated with the Gwydir Floodplain Management Plan are now available on an intereactive map. This will be useful to help identify which parts of your landholding fit in which zone, and the location of ecological assestsas determined by the government. 
Submissions on the Gwydir Plan review have been extended and are due on Tuesday 18th August. Submission can be made following links on this department page. Summary of changes are available here

Critical items to consider include: 1. Management of historical works
2. Additional requirements for works in management zones A and D (details available here)

The Floodplain Management Plan for the Gwydir Valley Floodplain 2016 is currently being reviewed. This plan set the rules for flood work development on the floodplains, including what type of flood works can be constructed and where. 
Under the Water Management Act 2000, floodplain management plans must be reviewed in the 5 years before they expire to ensure they continue to effectively support the needs of communities, landholders and the environment.  An  initial review was undertaken in 2022, There is currently the opportunity to provide feedback on how the plan is working and wherer it can be improve
Submissions are open from Monday 20th July 2026 and have been extended to 11:59 pm on Tuesday 18th August 2026

WaterNSW have released a fact sheet providing information on water use data..
Water-use data recorded through pulse outputs, Local Intelligence Devices (LIDs) and the Data Acquisition Service (DAS) may not always exactly match the meter reading displayed in the field.
The fact sheet explains how the systems work together to capture and transmit water-use information, why differences between DAS data and meter readings can occur, and what steps to take if you notice something that doesn’t look right.

The July Water Allocation Statement came out today. No surprises with 0% allocation. There is 449GL in the General Security accounts (88%) and 61GL in the Environmental allowance (135%). High security, Supplementary and FPH licence holders received their maximum 9100%) allocation.
During June approx. 2.1GL of ECA water was delivered. 
In the 2025-26 water year GS began with 69% of entitlement, there were three allocation increments made resulting in total allocation of 67% for the 2025-26 year. There was a useage of approx 39% of entitlement (198GL). Supplementary access licences received 40% of entitlements (72GL).
Good rainfall early in the water year saw Copeton dam storage increase from a starting point of 53% to a leak of 82% with end of year capacity of 60%, 
The full statement is available here for the Gwydir Valley and here for the opening allocations for NSW regulated sources

The NSWIC have released their June newsletter. Included is conversation on;

  1. IPART Pricing determination released
  2. Basin Plan: What We Heard report
  3. Non-urban metering update 
  4. NSW Auditor-General’s performance audit into water


The newsletter is available at the following link

Water supply works approved for Floodplain Harvesting operate as a system, each work contributes to harvesting the water, unless they are clearly excluded.
Under FPH metering rules:
• Only storages and points of intake need meters
• Other works (such as channels and lift pumps) do not need meters
• These other works should be classified as constructed, as they as they are involved in taking floodplain harvesting.
This is different from non-urban metering rules, where most works that take water need a meter unless exempt. If an approval holder has a work that is on a Floodplain Harvesting Water Supply Works approval which is also on another non-floodplain harvesting approval – they may have different classifications because of the different rules.
The DCCEEW factsheet is available in the link

Water Prices set to soar with over cumulative changes of 33% to 42% over next four years: 
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved water bill increases of almost 50 per cent, excluding inflation, across many NSW valleys over the next four years, despite acknowledging that many customers have limited capacity to absorb them.
Water bills in the Gwydir will increase between 7 and 10 per cent plus CPI each year for the next four years. This is a cumulative change of 33 to 42 per cent over the next four years. 

  •         Typical General Security bills will increase from $18,863 to $26,724 a 9.1 per cent annualised increase.
  •         Entitlement prices will incur an annualised increase of 9.9 per cent for General Security and 6.1 per cent for High Security.
  •         While usage prices will see and annualised 8.8 per cent increase.  
  •         Local Water Utilities in the Gwydir will also see increases.
The full media release is included in the link

The GVIA currently has ground water  available for temporary trade. Please email Lou at gvia@gvia.org.au if you have any questions. 

Current Tenders 2025-2026:

    • 1 x 38 ML (megalitres) of Lower Gwydir Groundwater allocation for sale. You can bid in price/megalitre by emailing gvia@gvia.org.au before 5pm Tuesday 16th June 2026

    Support with FPH obligations

    WaterNSW have offered to assist members who are Floodplain Harvesting customers to better understand their obligations under the NSW FPH Policy.

    WaterNSW have offered informal one on one sessions, by appointment so that each customer can discuss their specific concern and queries, and address any issues that may exist. This is a practical step by WaterNSW to try and help ensure everyone is ready to go when we get the next FPH opportunity.

    The planning is for the week of the 20 July either in Moree (at the GVIA office) or possibly at other sites if needed.

    Please contact gvia@gvia.org.au to arrange a meeting. Please include details as shown below such as Registration of Interest (ROI’s) and Work Approvals so we can start to plan sessions. 

    Please register by the end of the week 3 July Thank you

    ROI
    		 WA
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    		 Email
    		 Preferred Location
     
    		  
    		  
    		  
    		  
    		  
     
    		  
    		  
    		  
    		  
    		  

    The MDBLP brings together people from across the Basin who are ready to work beyond their own interests and contribute to strengthening understanding of how the Basin’s water resources are managed. 
    This is a leadership experience designed for people who care about the future of the Basin and the communities, industries and water dependent ecosystems it supports.

    You will join a diverse cohort of people from across regions, sectors and backgrounds.

    Together, you will build the skills, relationships and mindset to work through complexity, navigate difference and take action where it matters most. This includes engaging your communities, supporting informed dialogue about water use, and helping educate Australians about the Basin’s water resources and the pressures they face . Social Media on the program

    WaterNSW is making releases from Copeton Dam to target flows at Tyreel Weir in the Gwydir River. The expected peak flow at the site is about 100 ML/day from 30 May 2026
    Additional information is available in the link

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