The NSW Government has completed a robust review into the management of water at Toorale Station, allowing critical environmental water to resume flowing to the Western Floodplain in Toorale National Park.
A comprehensive evaluation of the station's water licencing arrangements began in late 2024 to ensure all flows were being properly accounted for.
As a result of the review, we have made changes requiring all water diverted to the Western Floodplain at Toorale, via Boera Dam and its levee and regulating structures, to be debited against a corresponding water access licence.
This locks in certainty for all water users in the region, bringing Toorale into line with legislative requirements and providing more clarity and transparency around water management decisions with improved mandatory public reporting.
Thanks to this update, a Stop Work Order issued by the independent Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) on 6 August 2025 is no longer in effect.
The ongoing Toorale NRAR investigation is separate to the recently announced pause on some environmental water in NSW by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder which the NSW Government is working to address as quickly as possible.
Minister for Water Rose Jackson said:
"This is positive news for local communities and the environment. The NSW Government has worked quickly to resolve the Stop Work Order so we can get on with the job of delivering vital flows to the Western Floodplain which is home to hundreds of native plants and animals.
"We have delivered a comprehensive review to ensure all environmental water being diverted from Boera Dam at Toorale is properly accounted for, ensuring management decisions can be made with certainty.
"Getting water management right is a complex task and one we take very seriously which is why we want to continue getting the balance right and being open and transparent about the decisions we make."
