Lower Namoi irrigator to forfeit water and fund fish release for alleged over-extraction

An irrigator in NSW’s north-west will forfeit more than a third of their FY21-22 groundwater allocation and contribute $15,000 towards fish stocking in the Namoi River.

The irrigator, who allegedly exceeded their bore extraction limits, has entered into an enforceable undertaking, which is a legally binding agreement, with the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR).

NRAR Director Water Regulation West, Graeme White said there are strict limits on how much water can be pumped from groundwater sources via a bore.

“Bore extraction limits protect fragile groundwater sources from harm,” Mr White said.

The owner of the 1239-hectare property is alleged to have pumped almost 585 megalitres in excess of their extraction limits from four separate bores between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2020. The amount of water is equivalent to 234 Olympic swimming pools.

The water was taken from the at-risk Lower Namoi Groundwater Source, part of the Namoi River catchment. The groundwater source experiences high demand, supplying more than 88,255 megalitres per year to over 2,039 registered bores and stretching across a 7,630 kilometre square area.

As part of the agreement, the Namoi River will be replenished with fingerlings (juvenile fish) funded by the irrigator and supplied by Narrabri Fish Farm. The farm, an accredited hatchery with the NSW Department of Primary Industries, specialises in four native fish species and has released over 250,000 fingerlings into local river systems to date.

“By working with the irrigator, we secured $15,000 for the Narrabri Fish Farm that will see fish return to the Namoi River.”

The enforceable undertaking came into effect on 15 June 2022. Under the terms of the agreement the landholder will:

• pay $15,000 to the Narrabri Fish Farm for the supply and placement of fingerling fish stock into the Namoi River
• forfeit 584.8ML in the 2021/22 water year (36% of their entitlement)
• reimburse NRAR $10,000 for investigation costs
• install new meters and associated telemetry on all company water extraction sites to improve the accuracy of future water management on the property.

Bore extraction limits are one of NRAR’s four regulatory priorities. Two Murrumbidgee landholders were prosecuted in February 2022 for exceeding their bore limits. NRAR will continue to monitor compliance across NSW to address the issue of water users exceeding their bore limits.

View other enforceable undertakings with NRAR.