Public input invited for Paterson Regulated River Water Sharing Plan

Media release | 7 May 2019

The NSW Government has put on public exhibition a replacement Water Sharing Plan for the Paterson River Water Sharing Source and is calling for community feedback.

Paterson water users and the community can attend an information session on Thursday 16 May 2019 from 3.00 pm to 6.30 pm at the East Gresford School of Arts, 42 Park Street, East Gresford. The closing date for receipt of submissions is 27 May 2019.

The water sharing plan establishes rules for water management including the limit of the total volume of water that can be extracted from the Paterson system and how water is managed from Lostock Dam.

Department of Industry Executive Director Water Rachel Connell said the updated plan is based on climate and modelling data that provides additional insight into the environmental water rules.

“Over the past years, additional data has been collected to allow us to update the way that environmental water is managed and delivered to the end of the system. This replacement new plan will improve environmental and community outcomes,” she said.

Water sharing plans are subject to review every 10 years under the Water Management Act 2000. The replacement plan has been reviewed by the Natural Resources Commission.

The finalised replacement plan is proposed to take effect from 1 July 2019.