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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 INCREASES FOR WATER USERS IN THE MURRAY, MURRUMBIDGEE AND LOWER DARLING VALLEYS NSW Water Commissioner, David Harriss, today announced an increase in water allocations for high security water users in the Murrumbidgee and Murray Valleys and an initial general security allocation for water users in the Lower Darling River Valley below the Menindee Lakes. “Rainfall in the upper catchments and in the Snowy Mountains has increased inflows during August and early September and while still well below average, have been greater than in previous months,” said Mr Harriss. Mr Harriss said that the Murrumbidgee high security allocation would increase to 60 percent of entitlement, while improved water availability in the Murray Valley has allowed NSW to increase it’s high security allocation to 50 percent of entitlement.
“Continuing low flows in the Darling River combined with less than forecast evaporative losses from the Menindee Lakes have enabled an allocation of 25 percent to be made for general security entitlement holders in the lower Darling Valley downstream of the Menindee Lakes,” he said.
Stock and domestic allocations in the Murrumbidgee Valley have also increased to 60 percent of entitlement, while stock and domestic allocations in the Murray Valley will remain at 50 per cent of entitlement. Mr Harriss said that the increase in high security allocations in both Valleys means that Council and Town Water Supply Authorities may relax town water restrictions, consistent with the Murray and Murrumbidgee water restrictions policy. Under the policy, water restrictions in the Murrumbidgee Valley can be relaxed to level 2a that allows for a maximum of 8 hours of outside watering per week, including limited lawn watering. Water restrictions in the Murray Valley may also be relaxed to level 3; which allows for a maximum of 8 hours of outside watering per week. Full details of water availability in the Murray and Murrumbidgee Valleys are available today in the Critical water planning communiqués. The communiqués will be available at www.dwe.nsw.gov.au
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