Native wildlife is responding to the refill of Gingham Waterhole, with frogs calling and waterbirds returning to this important wetland refuge.
Water for the environment was delivered to refill the waterhole, with flows commencing in late May and continuing until the waterhole reached capacity at the end of June. WaterNSW was provided with a target flow of 100 megalitres per day (ML/d) at Tyreel Gauging Station (GS), where the Gingham Channel branches from the Gwydir River. The target flow was designed to work alongside other river flows, with Environmental Water Allowance (EWA) added when required.
Favourable conditions helped accelerate the delivery. Rainfall in late May saw water reach the Gingham Waterhole on 4 June 2026.
"We are already seeing frogs and a range of bird species using the waterhole. That is exactly the type of response we hope to see from environmental flows," said David Preston, Senior Environmental Water Management and Conservation Officer.
As conditions changed, the delivery was adjusted in response to monitoring observations. Higher-than-desired inundation in the eastern wetlands prompted a reduction in the target flow from 100 megalitres per day (ML/d) to 60 ML/d at the Tyreel GS.
"Rainfall in the valley meant water reached the waterhole earlier than if we had waited for water to travel from Copeton Dam," Mr Preston said.
"That gave us an opportunity to move environmental water through the wetlands sooner and support important habitat areas.
"We monitored conditions throughout the event and adjusted flows when needed. Reducing the flow rate helped us manage inundation levels in the adjacent wetlands while still achieving our objective of filling the waterhole as soon as possible."
By the end of June, monitoring confirmed the waterhole was full. Deliveries were then reduced, allowing a small environmental flow to continue through the system. This is consistent with the Gwydir Regulated Water Sharing Plan three tributaries (3T) low-flow rule which ensures a proportion of natural river flows continue to support the wetlands as they did prior to the construction of Copeton Dam and other regulators along the river.
During the event, approximately 2,700 ML of water was directed to the Gingham Watercourse, including around 2,400 ML of NSW-managed Environmental Water Allowance.
The benefits can already be seen across the wetlands. Recent observations include intermediate egrets, musk ducks, Pacific black ducks, Australasian grebes, grey teal, tree martins, whistling kites, white-plumed honeyeaters, superb fairy-wrens and willie wagtails.
Note: H5N1 avian influenza is the highly pathogenicity strain of avian influenza that can infect wild birds, poultry and some mammals.
Several locations in inland NSW, including wetlands supported by environmental water, have been identified as high-priority sites for risk assessment and preparedness planning.
Environmental water managers are closely monitoring the evolving situation following recent detections of H5N1 avian influenza in Australia and New South Wales.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is the lead agency for responding to H5N1 avian influenza. Water managers within the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) are supporting preparedness activities and are available to assist incident management teams to identify and respond to risks to wildlife and communities.
Communities can assist with early detection by reporting what they see. Anyone who sees sick, dead or symptomatic birds should:
AVOID
- Avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife and the surrounding environment.
- Do not allow pets to touch or eat sick or dead wildlife.
RECORD
- Record what you see, including the species, location and surrounding area, using photographs or video where it is safe to do so.
REPORT
- Report unusual sickness or mass deaths of wild birds (five or more birds) to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
