Gum Bend Lake water allocation update

Lachlan Shire Council wishes to update the community on the status of water allocations for Gum Bend Lake. Despite the significant water flows currently passing Condobolin through the Lachlan River, Council is not allowed to commence pumping water into Gum Bend Lake until further water allocation announcements are made.

The water allocations for the Lachlan River are governed by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment – Water and WaterNSW. Council has no control over these allocations and must follow the regulations which govern water extractions. Therefore Council does not have enough water available to pump into the lake. Any support that community members wish to provide for a special water allocation for Gum Bend Lake should be directed to these State Government Departments.

Council has been busy investigating a number of options for sourcing additional water to fill Gum Bend Lake, including a request to the NSW Minster for Water Melinda Pavey for a special water allocation. Council has also approached the Department to ask about the possibility of alternative water allocations, including an environmental allocation and access to an uncontrolled flow. To date, these requests have not produced any benefits.

Council is constantly monitoring the water levels within Wyangala Dam and is awaiting updates from Water NSW and the Department on the status of water allocations. Council remains hopeful of a positive increase in water allocations in the near future.

It has been suggested by some members of the public that Council should purchase an additional water allocation. Council supports this idea, however a High Security Water Licence is expensive and currently beyond the resources of Council as there are no funds available in the Budget for this purpose.

For information on State water allocations you can go to: https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/allocations-availability/allocations/statements

For further information or clarification, please contact Council’s Director Infrastructure Services, Mr Adrian Milne, during office hours on (02) 6895 1900.