Monday, 2 March 2026
Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan is urging the Minns Labor Government to act and prevent any further Commonwealth water buybacks from the Gwydir catchment.
The Federal Government recently announced they are targeting entitlement holders in the northern Murray-Darling Basin, including in the Gwydir Valley area.
Recovery targets for returning water to the river system in the Gwydir zone have already been exceeded and Mr Moylan said local communities have done their fair share.
“Gwydir irrigators and the community have carried the burden of water recovery for years,” he said.
“They have already contributed to meeting and exceeding Government set recovery targets, so it doesn’t make sense to come back and take more.
“Along with meeting the environmental needs, the Gwydir Valley catchment also supports wetlands, irrigated agriculture and mixed farming operations.
“Taking more water entitlements jeopardises local jobs, industries, supply chains and the viability of towns.
“The Premier has said he opposes further buybacks in NSW and now he must stand by that to put regional communities in the Northern Basin first and protect them from being targeted again.”
MEDIA: Electorate Office 6772 5552
Photo caption: Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan said irrigators have already carried the burden of water recovery for years.