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All Current and Past Media Releases
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Media Release - Department of Water and Energy Date: 11 September 2009 OPERATIONS FOR THE WAKOOL RIVER SYSTEM - 2009 / 2010 NSW Water Commissioner David Harriss said today that releases would commence into the drought affected Wakool River system early next week.
Approximately 30 gigalitres of NSW water will be released into the river system to provide much needed stock and domestic water to landholders and help to maintain the riverine environment. The releases will be made so that, if additional water becomes available, flows can be maintained continuously throughout the summer season.
“We have consulted extensively with local landowners and with ecologists and scientists to determine the most appropriate rates of flow given the extremely low water resource availability.
Mr Harriss said that in the past 2 years there had not been enough water available to keep a continuous flow in many of the Murray River’s tributaries, including the Wakool system. We have only had sufficient water available to pulse flows intermittently and this has been far from ideal.
“The commencement of flows follows recent rainfall. Because there is some water left in pools throughout the system this will mean that water delivered now will provide a greater benefit for water supply and the environment than if delivered later in the summer.
Mr Harriss said that the flows will be delivered at relatively low rates to minimise the disturbance of river bed sediments and vegetation that may adversely affect water quality.
“The operating strategy has been developed in consultation with Wakool System Advisory Group who will work with the NSW Office of Water and State Water Corporation to monitor the water quality in the systems as flows pass through.
“Due to the ongoing drought and reduced water availability, only enough water will be released into the Wakool River system to meet the stock and domestic needs. There is insufficient water to provide for irrigation and it is an offence to pump this water for irrigation and other non-stock and domestic purposes.”
Mr Harriss reminded all water users in the Wakool system that a 324 Order exists that restricts access and use of this water and that to ensure that the system is run fairly, the community should report any suspected breaches to the NSW Office of Water’s Compliance Unit on 1800 633 362 or by email to watercompliance@dwe.nsw.gov.au. All reports are confidential.
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