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All Current and Past Media Releases
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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 15 September 2009 INCREASE IN WATER ALLOCATION FOR BROGO RIVER WATER USERS The NSW Office of Water today announced a 5 per cent increase in water allocation for general security water users drawing from the Brogo Dam. General security access licence holders commenced the water year in July with a zero allocation due to the low storage level within the dam. Although the storage levels have not substantially recovered, losses have been lower than expected due to careful controls on releases by State Water, thereby allowing this small, but important increase in general security allocation. The NSW Office of Water is working closely with water users and State Water to ensure the available water is delivered and used as efficiently as possible to minimise further losses. The allocation announced can only be taken during periods of block release from Brogo Dam. The NSW Office of Water has reached agreement with local water users and the dam owner, State Water, to make the first block release during the week commencing 14 September. The release will occur over three to four days. To allow the river flow to get through to all irrigators, pumping may begin from Wednesday 16 September. Irrigators can continue to pump whilst water is near their pump and they have allocation remaining, or until State Water advises that they must stop. When pumping ceases, irrigators must also advise State Water of their meter readings so that planning can commence for another potential block release in a few weeks. For more information irrigators should contact their local water users’ association. Town water supply, licensed stock and domestic and high security licence holders are already receiving 100 per cent allocation, ensuring that critical human needs are catered for. The south-east of New South Wales has experienced some of the lowest rainfall on record over the past 12 months. While the Brogo River catchment received some rainfall over the past year, inflows from the Brogo River have remained low, and the dam is currently at 27 per cent of capacity. Making this allocation available now allows irrigators to obtain pasture growth during the spring period so that some feed is available over summer, which is forecast to be drier and hotter than average. The NSW Office of Water will continue to review water use and availability so that any further changes to allocations can be made when conditions permit. Additional information on water allocations is available on the NSW Office of Water’s website at www.dwe.nsw.gov.au Alternatively, licence holders can phone the Newcastle Office – Mark Simons on 4904 2572 for more information.
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