Keep Dubbo’s River Flowing!
It’s Time for a Real Water Security Solution
The summer of 2019/20 was a terrifying glimpse into our future. The Wambuul-Macquarie River, the lifeblood of our region, came perilously close to running dry as Burrendong Dam’s water levels dropped to less than 2%. Dubbo was just months away from a water crisis that would have forced evacuations. This was not just a bad drought; it was a policy failure.
The Problem: Our Water Rules are Broken
The rules that govern our water supply are dangerously outdated. They are based on rainfall data from last century, legally ignoring the severe droughts of the last 20 years. This means our government is allocating water that simply isn’t there, leaving our community exposed and our river on the brink of collapse every time the rains fail. This is not sustainable, and it is not responsible.
The Solution: A Common-Sense Drought Reserve
Healthy Rivers Dubbo is calling for a simple, fair, and permanent solution: a legally mandated Drought Reserve in Burrendong Dam. This is a common-sense insurance policy for our water.
We are asking the NSW Government to amend the Water Sharing Plan to create a reserve that secures three years of our most critical water needs. Our primary ask is that this reserve guarantees the base environmental flows needed to keep our river alive, as set out in the government’s own Macquarie Long Term Watering Plan. This would be in addition to securing water for our town supplies and for basic landholder rights.
This is about prioritising our survival.
Our Future is in Our Hands
Add your voice to our campaign. Tell the government that the water security of Dubbo and the health of the Wambuul-Macquarie River are not negotiable.
Healthy Rivers Dubbo 