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 continue our partnership with the Gomeroi (Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay) people in the Namoi catchment. This includes:
- strengthening relationships to better understand the cultural values of the Namoi and Peel rivers and floodplains, while sharing knowledge regarding ecological health
- supporting Aboriginal representatives by integrating their priorities directly into annual water planning, and assisting the Dharriwaa Elders Group at Walgett with the planning and management of their cultural water licenses
- continuing the joint project with the Walgett River Rangers to survey native fish responses to environmental water deliveries in the Lower Namoi River
- supporting the development of cultural watering plans where required.
Key planned actions for 2026–27
Native fish
Water will be strategically released below Wee Waa to maintain deep refuge pools as regulated flows reduce or cease. In the Peel River, environmental water will focus on supporting refugia and small-scale fish movement under dry conditions. If more water becomes available, the focus will shift to supporting breeding and improving native fish recruitment.
Connectivity
Water managers will look for opportunities to provide connections along the Namoi River and between the Namoi and Barwon rivers. These connection flows will encourage dispersal of native fish into the Namoi River system and support some native fish refugia in the Barwon River below Walgett.
If the region experiences extreme drought, a coordinated Northern Basin Connectivity release may be triggered to protect the native fish refuge holes and maintain critical water quality in the Barwon- Darling River.
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.
