OEH intention to sell water allocation
The Minister for the Environment, the Hon Gabrielle Upton MP, has announced that OEH will make up to 15,000 megalitres of NSW environmental water allocation available to the market for purchase.
This will occur over the coming spring and summer period within the Gwydir, Macquarie, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee and Murray-Lower Darling regulated river water sources.
OEH routinely trades a proportion of its annual water allocation to assist with the payment of water charges and to balance water availability and environmental demand across valleys and seasons.
OEH will continue to manage environmental water to maintain the health of rivers and important wetlands throughout 2018-19, using the balance of its current licenced allocation and environmental water made available under water sharing plans. This will include the management of water to areas such as the Gwydir Wetlands, Macquarie Marshes, Millewa wetlands, Yanga National Park and the anabranch creeks of the mid-Lachlan River. These wetlands provide critical drought refuge for waterbirds, fish and other native animals and are key to ensuring that our rivers can recover when rainfall and river flows return.
OEH participates in the market in the same way as other water users by using established water brokers and online water trading platforms. There are numerous water brokers and exchanges operating in Australia. For more information about choosing a water broker or water exchange go to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Water trading, brokers and exchanges.
If you have a specific enquiry about how OEH is participating in the market for these trades, please provide your contact details in an email to riverbank@environment.nsw.gov.au.
OEH will report on its market activity once the proposed trades are completed.
Information on how OEH manages water for the environment can be found at About water for the environment.
