Temporary restriction on interstate water trade

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment today announced a temporary restriction on interstate water trades into the NSW Murray, Lower Darling and Murrumbidgee regulated river water sources.

With Upper Murray storages effectively full, this temporary trade restriction is required to mitigate the risk that water traded from Victoria or South Australia to NSW water access licence holders will spill from storage.

The lost trade water would then have to be met from water already captured and allocated, which will adversely impact NSW water supplies.

Future allocations may also be impacted if trade volumes from interstate continued to accrue under these circumstances, as undelivered trade water will stop inflows from being captured and allocated to NSW water users.

These restrictions will remain in force up to and including 31 December 2022, unless that date is amended.

The order may be repealed earlier if NSW storage levels are reduced enough to create airspace to safely receive traded water.

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