Portfolio and Planning - Gwydir

Magpie Geese, Gingham. Photo: CEWO

Planning for 2021-22

The Commonwealth Environmental Water Office plans over multi-year time scales, to allow better integration of the planning of water delivery, trade and carryover. This year's Water Management Plan 2021-22 is one document comprising:

  1. An introductory chapter on how we plan and make decisions to use water for the environment.
  2. A chapter on managing our water holdings in the Murray-Darling Basin in 2020-21. This chapter discusses projected environmental demands, water availability and delivery, as well as plans for carryover, transfers, and trade.
  3. 12 valley-scale chapters detailing catchment-specific environmental objectives, recent conditions, supply, demand, priorities and monitoring outcomes/lessons learned.

As in previous years, this document will inform decisions made by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder on how to best use the available water to benefit the environment of the Murray–Darling Basin.

The Water Management Plan is complemented by two brochures for the northern and southern Murray-Darling Basin.

Consultation on the 2021-22 plan has occurred with New South Wales (NSW) Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) – Environment, Energy and Science, NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries, NSW DPIE - Water, WaterNSW, the Gwydir Environmental Water Advisory Group (formally known as the Environmental Contingency Allowance Operations Advisory Committee), scientists engaged in monitoring the outcomes of Commonwealth environmental water use, and various community groups and individuals.

Decisions on using Commonwealth environmental water will be made throughout the year based on seasonal, operational and management considerations. If you wish to provide suggestions for Commonwealth environmental water use please contact us at ewater@environment.gov.au or send us your suggestion by visiting: Your suggestions for potential water use options.

Water Holdings

The Commonwealth holds the following entitlement types in the Gwydir region:

  • High Security
  • General Security
  • Supplementary

For more information about current Commonwealth environmental water holdings in the Gwydir Region, including please refer to Environmental water holdings.

Information regarding the characteristics of entitlements and the water resource plan held in the Gwydir catchment is available at NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment - Water.