Communities across NSW will have water for essential needs secured for the 2026–27 water year, with all high-priority uses receiving full opening allocations despite mixed conditions across the state.
Town water supplies, environmental water, and domestic and stock needs have all received full opening allocations, ensuring water is available where it is needed most.
For many farmers, the outlook is also positive, with general security licence holders in many regions able to access substantial volumes of water through opening allocations or fully deliverable carryover balances.
Opening allocations reflect highly variable conditions across NSW. Coastal catchments have largely received full allocations, while most northern inland valleys have moderate to strong allocations, particularly in the Namoi and Gwydir.
However, ongoing dry conditions continue to affect parts of the state. General security users in the NSW Border Rivers, NSW Murray and Murrumbidgee have received no opening allocation for 2026–27, while only limited opening allocations are available in the Lower Darling.
All supplementary, unregulated river and floodplain harvesting licences have received full opening allocations (subject to section 324 orders where applicable), as have most groundwater licence holders.
Rainfall during the past 12 months has varied significantly across NSW. Above-average rainfall in some coastal and far western areas contrasted with below-average rainfall across southern, central and northern inland regions, reducing inflows to major storages.
Major dams across the rural water network are at moderate but declining storage levels, averaging about 49 per cent of capacity and holding around 8,300 gigalitres.
Water availability and seasonal conditions will continue to be monitored throughout the 2026–27 water year, with water allocation statements for major regulated river systems updated at least monthly as conditions change.
“We know NSW can be a land of contrasting extremes, and these past 12 months have certainly been true to that. While some areas have experienced well above average rainfall, other parts have been battling increasingly dry conditions.” said NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Director, Water Planning Implementation, Allan Raine.
“Despite this, it’s encouraging to see reliable allocations for many water users, and importantly, to know water for the most critical needs is locked in for the next year.”
“We will continue to closely watch those regions experiencing dry conditions, as well as the climate outlook for the new water year to ensure water availability is managed carefully and sustainably.”
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