The Namoi River could soon flow freely again between Keepit Dam and Walgett with plans for a bulk water release from Split Rock Dam in early December.
The release will help replenish supplies for irrigators and communities that rely on the river.
The transfer from Split Rock Dam to Keepit Dam will ensure water that has been previously allocated to Lower Namoi access licences is available to satisfy demand during the upcoming season.
State Water is finalising plans and wasn’t able to confirm exactly how much water will be released.
Water Delivery Manager of Northern Valleys, Craig Cahill, said that the consultation process has already begun.
“State Water has been consulting with customers and the NSW Office of Water over the past six months and has developed a draft release pattern for the bulk water transfer.
“To further develop and finalise the draft release pattern, State Water is holding a public meeting in Manilla to discuss the proposed plan” said Mr Cahill.
Customers and the general public are encouraged to attend to help finalise the release strategy.
Namoi Water Chairman Matthew Norrie, Narrabri, said the release of water was a last resort.
“This scenario is the last thing we wanted, a good thing would be some rain, it’s just been an unusual set of weather events where we haven’t had any inflows into either dam,” he explained.
“The issue is that irrigators below Keepit are all virtually already out of water, except for very few who have some of their allocation left over and State Water need to deliver the water they’ve already allocated.
“People who have already exhausted their allocation won’t get any extra water, this water is only for people that are still entitled to water.”
Mr Norrie believes water has been managed in the best possible way considering the exceptional environmental conditions.
“State Water can only run the dams by the rules and that’s what they’ve done,” he said.
Split Rock dam is currently about 15% full, but the water release could reduce its capacity to below 5%.
This will be the last significant release from Split Rock until it rains, and while the flow will ensure irrigators receive water they have paid for, it will also be positive for the environment.
“Pre-development, before we had any dams, the river wouldn’t have flowed much at all in the last few years, but having the irrigation water provides environmental flows from time to time and that’s going to be good for the ecology of the river and fish breeding so that’s a bonus,” Mr Norrie said.
The public meeting to discuss the release will be held at the Imperial Hotel at Manilla starting at 5:30pm, Wednesday 29 October 2014.