Authorities are warning farmers and other water-users about a new water sharing plan rule trigger.

WaterNSW is advising unregulated customers on the Barwon-Darling River system that a new rule in the NSW Government’s water sharing plan is likely to come into effect.

The resumption of flow rule was incorporated into the Barwon-Darling unregulated water sharing plan in July last year, and requires holders of A, B and C class licences to cease pumping when flows resume along the river after a prolonged dry period.

The rule comes into effect when the flow rate at Wilcannia has been below 200 megalitres per day (ML/day) for 90 consecutive days. (Flows dropped below 200 ML/d on the 15 October 2020 and 90 days after this date is Tuesday, 12 January).

At that point water will not be able to be extracted by A, B and C class licences and this will be reflected in access announcements published by WaterNSW.

At that point, water will not be able to be extracted by A, B and C class licences and this will be reflected in access announcements in the Barwon Darling unregulated river to be published by WaterNSW on 12 January.

Pumping can resume in line with existing access announcements once there is a forecast for river flow at Wilcannia of 400 ML/day for a minimum of 10 days OR a forecast of a cumulative flow to pass Bourke of 30,000 megalitres.