NSW Irrigators' Council CEO Dr Madeleine Hartley has warned that temporary water restrictions imposed across northern NSW risk causing significant and lasting harm to water users, regional economies and local food and fibre production.
The restrictions, set out in the latest NSW Government Gazette and in place until September 2026, will take effect when the total volume of 'active' water in the upper Menindee Lakes falls below 250 GL.
Dr Hartley said the measures represent more than a short-term intervention and are becoming part of a broader pattern of incremental reductions to water reliability without compensation.
"Temporary restriction orders are designed as blunt, short-term tools for extreme circumstances but are being used as a backdoor way to achieve permanent reductions in water take without appropriate process or compensation.
"Water reform in NSW is starting to look like death by a thousand cuts to water users and irrigation-dependent communities."
Dr Hartley added that water sharing plans are in place to share water fairly across multiple users, including the environment.
"NSW has spent decades getting the balance right and management rules already exist that allow for the equitable sharing of water when coming out of a dry period. This order demonstrates a complete lack of faith in the existing plans and robs irrigators of their share."
NSWIC is also warning that the cumulative impact of overlapping reforms is placing unsustainable pressure on irrigation-dependent industries.
"These restrictions come at a time when water users are navigating an unprecedented wave of reforms and responding to at least 20 major policy and pricing changes set to reduce reliability and increase costs across NSW.
"We are seeing the early signs of a structural shift where declining reliability and rising costs are starting to undermine participation, production and investment, with real consequences for regional communities and local food and fibre systems.
"We are asking for a reset - one that properly considers cumulative impacts of all proposed reductions, compensates fairly, and ensures policy settings are fair and transparent and that irrigation communities have a future".
