Partnering with Aboriginal peoples
Water for Country is environmental water use planned by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and Aboriginal people to achieve shared benefits for the environment and cultural places, values and/or interests.
In 2026–27, we will engage with Aboriginal peoples and organisations across the Macquarie catchment. This includes:
incorporating the views of the Macquarie-Cudgegong Environmental Water Advisory Group (EWAG) member representing part of the Aboriginal community into annual environmental water planning
- supporting Aboriginal organisations as they establish themselves as cultural water managers throughout the Macquarie catchment and supporting the development of a cultural watering plan
- continuing to build positive relationships with local Aboriginal communities.
Key planned actions for 2026–27
Native fish
Flow smoothing and a flow rate floor at Baroona stream gauge will be pursued with assistance from WaterNSW and the irrigation industry. A small volume of environmental water will be made available, should it help achieve stated flow targets. This is targeted to assist breeding of generalist species and in-channel specialists, particularly eel-tailed catfish, by providing more stable and reliable nesting flows.
In Autumn 2027, a pulse in the mid-Wambuul-Macquarie River will support native fish recruitment by promoting post-breeding movement before winter.
In the Cudgegong River, should a bulk water transfer not be required, a spring 2026 pulse followed by elevated base flows over summer 2026–27, will assist breeding of river generalist and in-channel specialist species like freshwater catfish and Murray cod. If a bulk water transfer is required in the Cudgegong during 2026–27, the department will work with WaterNSW to maximise environmental outcomes from this significant high‑flow event.
Waterbirds
A spring 2026 pulse to the Macquarie Marshes via the mid-Wambuul-Macquarie River is expected to provide up to 12,000 hectares of wetted habitat for 3 months. This will support waterbird foraging and nesting of non-group-nesting species such as ducks, swans, magpie geese and waterhens. This pulse is expected to inundate some waterbird rookery sites within the core wetland areas, helping keep them in an ‘event-ready’ condition for the next waterbird rookery event. Rookeries outside the reedbeds and inner river red gum forests are unlikely to receive inundation.
Vegetation
A spring 2026 pulse to the Macquarie Marshes will provide up to 12,000 hectares of wetted habitat for 3-4 months to allow maintenance of wetland vegetation communities like common reed, water couch meadows and inner river red gum forests. This will replenish seed sources, add condition to rhizome-based species like common reed and reduce terrestrial weeds.
Connectivity
The proposed spring 2026 pulse will provide modest connectivity between the Macquarie Marshes and the regulated Wambuul-Macquarie River and allow some lateral connectivity within core wetlands of the Marshes.
Map of proposed annual priority targets in the water resource plan area 2026–27
For more information on each catchment's resource availability scenario and expected volumes, visit our Annual environmental watering priorities 2026-27 webpage.
