Government to meet locals on weir height reductions

Scott Fletcher from the Water Group speaking with concerned landholders Garry Mooring and Mick Davis. Photo TWH

NSW government water officers are pressing ahead with plans to reduce the heights of weirs along the Barwon-Darling River – including at Louth, Tilpa and at two weirs in the Walgett Shire – despite objections from local councils, community groups, landholders and local stakeholders.

Members of the NSW Water Group from the Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water are promoting the weir height reductions to install new fishways for fish migration during low flows.

The Louth and Tilpa town weirs have been targets, along with two weirs in the Walgett Shire – at Banarway and Calmundi.

Louth landholder and vice president of Louth Chamber of Commerce Garry Mooring has severely criticised the government officials who undertook to come back with designs that did not reduce water security to local communities like Louth.

“We met with this group last year and we told them we supported any efforts to improve fish passage up and down the rivers, but that we would not have them messing around with our water security,” Mr Mooring said.

“During the 2019-2020 drought on the Darling, the only thing that saved local communities was the water held back by these weir – that water security cannot be further reduced.” […]

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