Have Your Say On Draft Lachlan Unregulated Water Sharing Plan

The draft Lachlan Unregulated River water sharing plan is now on public display, and the NSW Government is inviting the com­munity to have its say.

The draft plan sets out clear rules for fair and sustainable water sharing among water users and the environment across the re­gion for the next decade.

It includes setting limits on how much wa­ter can be taken, protecting resources for the environment, basic landholder rights and cultural needs along with providing secure, legal and tradeable water access rights. It also sets out how much, where and when water can be taken by licence holders.

NSW DCCEEW Executive Director of Water Planning Giselle Howard said: “Wa­ter sharing plans are vital tools for manag­ing our state’s water resources, and the La­chlan Unregulated River water sharing plan is no exception.

“We want to hear your feedback on the draft plan now so we can continue to man­age the region’s water fairly and sustainably over the next 10 years.”

We’re inviting the Lachlan community to read the draft plan and make a submission before the public exhibition period ends on 20th December. We’ll be holding a webinar on 28th November from 2pm to 3pm, where the community can learn more, ask ques­tions and provide feedback.

Face-to-face drop-in sessions will be held in Crookwell on 3rd December between 10am and 12pm and in Cowra on 4th De­cember between 10am and 12pm.

Online one-on-one sessions with a water planner are also available in the week com­mencing 18th November.

The draft includes proposed changes to simplify the plan, make it clearer and easier for water users to understand and comply with the requirements.

In some areas, we have proposed chang­es to water access and trading rules. Other changes include additional protections for specific wetlands in the region.

We want to hear the community’s views on these changes and will carefully consider all feedback before finalising the draft plan ahead of it going into effect on 1 July 2025.

To register for a session and to make a submission, visit: https://water.nsw.gov.au/lachlan-water-sharing-plan