Rain extends Barwon-Darling pumping embargo

Weekend rainfall and good local inflows above Bourke have “re-floated” the Jandra paddleboat. PHOTO TWH

The NSW Government has extended a pumping embargo on the Barwon-Darling River following significant rainfall across north-western NSW over the past month.

The extension means that irrigation pumping restrictions on the Barwon-Darling River now apply from Mungindi to Lake Wetherill near Menindee, from Wednesday, 8 May until 30 August.

The only pumping allowed is for stock and domestic use, critical human needs and town water supplies.

The initial embargo declared on 17 April was to protect environmental releases from Copeton Dam and Glenlyon Dam to prevent pumping of all irrigation water on the Barwon-Darling from Mungindi to Tilpa.

Following recent rainfall and some small flows, the embargo has been extended to cover all irrigation pumping from Tilpa to Wilcannia and from Wilcannia to Lake Wetherill.

Read more in the printed edition of the Western Herald.