NCC Calls for Floodplain Harvesting Moratorium Following Rain in Barwon Catchment

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC) called on the Minns Government on 22 October 2026 to implement an urgent moratorium on floodplain harvesting, following heavy overnight rainfall and developing floods across the Barwon River catchment and northwestern New South Wales. The environmental group stated that the floodwaters should be directed toward replenishing rivers and wetlands ahead of summer rather than being extracted by large-scale irrigators.

The advocacy group noted that recent heavy rain across the Barwon River and its northern tributaries has generated flood conditions, raising concerns that significant volumes of water could be diverted. While a Section 324 order currently restricts most floodplain harvesting licences due to dry conditions and water levels at Menindee Lakes, the NCC pointed out that existing exceptions still permit pumping from off-river pools, including anabranches.

The call follows previous demands by the NCC for an immediate halt to floodplain harvesting. The organisation cited statements from the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) during Budget Estimates, where the regulator acknowledged that legal challenges regarding the validity of floodplain harvesting licences have introduced uncertainties that complicate regulatory enforcement.

In response to earlier community concerns, Minister for Water Rose Jackson stated in a letter dated 29 September 2026 that floodplain harvesting opportunities were expected to remain limited based on climatic conditions and forecasts. However, NCC Inland Rivers Community Organiser Mel Gray argued that the recent rainfall invalidates that rationale and called for harvesting to be suspended until the regulatory framework is proven to be fully enforceable.

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