Barwon–Darling region

Overview

The Barwon–Darling region is located First Nations within the catchment predominantly within north‑western include the Barkindji, Murrawarri, New South Wales and covers Ngemba and Ngiyampaa people. 142,173 km² or 13% of the The Barkindji people have called Murray–Darling Basin. the Darling River ‘Baaka’ for thousands of years. The Barwon–Darling comprises a broad alluvial floodplain interspersed The Brewarrina Fish Traps on with biodiverse wetlands, woodlands the Barwon River are one of the and open plains of native chenopods oldest human-made structures (flowering shrubs) and grasses. on Earth. They are extensive and intricate stone fish traps built by Drinking water is provided by the First Nations. river but in dry times towns are forced to rely on emergency bore The Barwon-Darling region is water. Bore water can contribute to dominated by dryland grazing and health problems and councils have cropping with a smaller proportion explored desalination to improve of land used for irrigated cropping. drinking water.

Image: The Barwon River at Brewarrina Weir, New South Wales Carnarvon N.P.

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Wyandra R Tara i v e r QUEENSLAND Brisbane Toowoomba

Moonie Thrushton er National e Riv ooni Park M k Beardmore Reservoir Millmerran e er e iv r R C ir e e St George W n i Allora b Cunnamulla e Bollon N r e Jack Taylor Weir iv R e n n N lo k a e B Warwick e r C Inglewood a l a l l a g n u Coolmunda Reservoir M N acintyre River Goondiwindi 25 Dirranbandi M Stanthorpe 0 50 Currawinya N.P. r Currawinya Lakes ive a R go Kilometres ul D) C QL r ( er D e iv um iv R Culgoa N.P. ar R o es Texas rn ro q ve a Ri e P QUEENSLAND ve S Hungerford r Legend Mungindi State border Tenterfield Elevation Basin border NEW SOUTH WALES Goodooga 0-200m River/creek Torrington State er Recreation Area Town/city iv Gwydir Riv R er e 200-400m Water storage/lake ri er Pindari Reservoir ir iv B n R National Park rra Na 400-800m Ramsar site r Enngonia Lightning Ridge Sev ve ern i er Rive Irrigation area R iv Moree r (NS go R Warialda W) 800-1200m e a Salt interception scheme rr ar a h Me W ok hi River 1200-1600m Wanaaring B

M Narran Lake ac Glen Innes Inverell inty re R Nocoleche Narran Lakes r iver Legend ive Nature n R wo State borders Reserve Brewarrina Bar Walgett Copeton Reservoir Basin border Bourke Weir Bourke Highways 2 3 Wee Waa Bundarra Namoi Riv Rivers/creeks er Mt. Kaputar N.P. Narrabri Towns & cities 1 Capital cities outside of MDB Gundabooka N.P. Louth Major water storages Pilliga West Byrock State Forest Split Rock Uralla Wetlands and natural lakes Pilliga Reservoir Paroo–Darling Nature Manilla National Park k National parks Macquarie Marshes Reserve e e r C

s Keepit Reservoir White Cliffs r x Irrigation area ive o g R Coonamble C rlin Da Gunnedah M a Paroo–Darling c Tamworth q u State Conservation Area a r i e Chaffey Reservoir Coonabarabran R i v e Warrambungle r Gulargambone N.P. Werris Creek

Wilcannia Cobar Nyngan C a s t le Warren re ag h R iver Coolah

Coolbaggie Goonoo er Broken Hill gar Riv Barwon–Darling region Nature State Talbra Reserve Forest Dunedoo Menindee Main Weir Key information B og Tottenham an Dubbo R iv Narromine Regional population (Bourke 2,590, er Menindee Lakes Brewarrina 1,611, Walgett 5,953, Cobar 4,658) is less than 1% of the Burrendong Menindee total population of the Basin. NEW SOUTH WALES Reservoir Wellington Weir 32 Mudgee Kinchega N.P. Copper was discovered Tullamore The main industry is beef and sheep in the Cobar mining belt in grazing on pastoral land and cotton 1869, where exploration still Windamere Goobang N.P. Reservoir Rylstone production on the western plains continues. The region has one ofYathong the State Forest Round Hill ch near the river. Cotton is the dominant Ivanhoe largest concentrations of base metals in an Nature Reserve br na irrigated crop in the region and there Australia, and includes lead, zinc, silver A ng are several other enterprises including and gold. li r ar ive D fruit, nuts and grapes. n R t Wi la Condobolin a llandra Creek ach re L Parkes G The Barwon–Darling region has a semi-arid Lake Cargelligo Irrigation is almost entirely from climate and rainfall is low throughout the Orange Danggali Portland Conservation surface water diversion. year but peaks in summer, with an annual Forbes SOUTH Park average of 330 mm. Lake Cargelligo Pooncarie Bathurst Hillston AUSTRALIA Lake Brewster r ive R ng Willandra Lakes region Carcoar Reservoir Burra rli Lake Cowal Da Oberon Mungo N.P.

Grenfell Cowra Booligal Sydney Lock 6 Morgan Riverland Goolgowi B West Wyalong la Wyangala Reservoir Lake Victoria n d Wentworth C Lock 9 re Lock 2 Lock 5 Lock 11 Cocoparra N.P. e River Murray Lock 7 k Lock 3 Great Cumbung Renmark Lock Merbein Swamp Lock 8 10 Mallee Cliffs N.P. Banrock Station Berri Mildura Barmera Blanchetown Griffith Young Lock 4 Red Murrum Hanwood Lock 1 bidge Cliffs e River Murray River N.P. Hay Temora Boorowa Crookwell Loxton Fivebough– Robinvale Tuckerbil Swan Reach Leeton Cootamundra Lock Balranald Hattah– 15 Kulkyne Lakes Narrandera Murray Sunset N.P. Ri ver M Billiat Conservation Hattah urra Hattah Lakes y Park Oolambeyan N.P. Adelaide Mannum Yanga N.P. Yass Hattah-Kulkyne N.P.

Moulamein k ree Tooleybuc o C Wagga Wagga Lake Ouyen N B nc iem illab Ya Murray Bridge ur ong Burrinjuck George Riv Cre Gundagai er Werai Forest ek Reservoir Lockhart Lake Brindabella N.P. Tailem Bend Pinnaroo Murrayville Alexandrina Tumut Canberra E Swan Hill dw Milang Lower Lakes ar and Coorong d R Jerilderie Blowering ive B T Wa l River r illa u Goolwa koo b m Reservoir Sea Lake ong Ginini Deniliquin Cr Henty u e t ACT Lake Albert e Flats Barrages k R i Murray Mouth v Tinderry Big Desert Finley e Wyperfeld N.P. Kerang Tu r Barham Koondrook– ppal C Nature Meningie Wilderness Wetlands reek Perricoota Namadgi N.P. Reserve Park Hopetoun Forest Millewa Forest The Coorong Kerang Talbingo Gunbower Torrumbarry Tumbarumba Lake Albacutya Forest Reservoir Weir Tocumwal R i ve Lake Mulwala urray Hume Reservoir r M River M Cabramurra u rr Barmah Forest Wycheproof ay Maragle State Forest Albury Adaminaby Lake Hindmarsh Kow Moama Yarrawonga Weir Corowa Swamp Broken Cre ek Wodonga Echuca Goul burn Lake Buloke Ri Khancoban Cooma Charlton L ver o Kosciuszko d d Nhill o Wangaratta N.P. Donald n Shepparton R M Ov it r iv e ta Blue Lake e n M ve A s i i vo r Bro Ri tta R c ke ve K R r n r i n a R i ve Little Desert N.P. R e iv e r o v e s St Arnaud iv i r Winton Wetlands w d e a r R r Av on R Dartmouth a Riv e Benalla h er p i c v i s Waranga Basin e Reservoir Horsham R a r Bendigo p m Mt. Buffalo N.P. Alpine N.P. W a C Bright im m e Cairn ra Lake Nillahcootie R i Curran ve r Reservoir Eppalock Maryborough Reservoir Seymour Castlemaine Mansfield Alpine N.P. Avoca Omeo Tullaroop Eildon Reservoir Halls Gap Reservoir Grampians N.P. Goulb urn R iver Kinglake N.P. Lake Eildon N.P.

VICTORIA Melbourne Carnarvon N.P.

r e v i r e R iv e R v i o g N re r r e a v i W R o l g n Augathella a L

r

e v i

R

d

r

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W Chesterton Range N.P.

Charleville Mitchell

Morven Roma Cheepie Miles

River Chinchilla amine Cond

Condamine k e e r r ve C i R l M e a nn a h lo Dalby c r a Surat a B e

n e o

B a

Wyandra R Tara i v e r QUEENSLAND Brisbane Toowoomba

Moonie Thrushton er National e Riv ooni Park M k Beardmore Reservoir Millmerran e er e iv r R C ir e e St George W n i Allora b Cunnamulla e Bollon N r e Jack Taylor Weir iv R e n n N lo k a e B Warwick e r C Inglewood a l a l l a g n u Coolmunda Reservoir M N acintyre River Goondiwindi 25 Dirranbandi M Stanthorpe 0 50 Currawinya N.P. r Currawinya Lakes ive a R go Kilometres ul D) C QL r ( er D e iv um iv R Culgoa N.P. ar R o es Texas rn ro q ve a Ri e P QUEENSLAND ve S Hungerford r Mungindi Tenterfield Elevation Goodooga 0-200m Torrington State er Recreation Area iv Gwydir Riv R er e 200-400m ri er Pindari Reservoir ir iv B n R rra Na 400-800m r Enngonia Lightning Ridge Sev ve ern i er Rive R iv Moree r (NS go R Warialda W) 800-1200m e a rr ar a h Me W ok hi River 1200-1600m Wanaaring B

M Narran Lake ac Glen Innes Inverell inty re R Nocoleche Narran Lakes r iver Legend ive Nature n R wo State borders Reserve Brewarrina Bar 5 Walgett Copeton Reservoir Basin border Bourke Weir 4 Bourke Highways Wee Waa Bundarra Namoi Riv Rivers/creeks er Mt. Kaputar N.P. Towns & cities Narrabri

Capital cities outside of MDB Gundabooka N.P. Louth Major water storages Pilliga West Byrock State Forest Split Rock Uralla Wetlands and natural lakes Pilliga Reservoir Paroo–Darling Nature Manilla National Park k National parks Macquarie Marshes Reserve e e r C

s Keepit Reservoir White Cliffs r x Irrigation area ive Around the region o g R Coonamble C rlin Da Gunnedah Gundabooka National Park is knownM for The Ngemba Billabong at Brewarrina a Paroo–Darling c Tamworth its Aboriginal rock art, with heritageq 4 contains 40,000-year-old fish traps and State Conservation Area 1 u a r accommodation available at Redbanki was declared an Indigenous Protected e Chaffey Reservoir Coonabarabran R Homestead. i Area in November 2010. It is also an v e Warrambungle r GulargamboneInternational Union forN.P. Conservation Werris Creek Toorale has significant Aboriginal cultural of Nature (IUCN) Category V and VI heritage and First Nations maintain a protected area. Wilcannia Cobar 2 connection to theNyngan area. The water is used C to deliver environmental outcomes both The internationallya -significant Narran s t in Toorale and downstream. Lakes (Dharriwaale to the Yuwaalaraay/ Warren 5 re Euahlayi First Nationsag people) is an h Riv Bourke Weir and Lock is only about important wetland thater endangered Coolah 4 m high but backs water upstream native waterbirds rely on to breed and 3 survive. about 40 km. It was constructed in Coolbaggie Goonoo iver Broken Hill agar R 1895 to help with navigation and to Nature State Talbr Reserve Forest provide a permanent water supply to Dunedoo the town. Menindee Main Weir B og Tottenham an Dubbo Feature creature: R iv Narromine er Menindee Murray–Darling rainbowfish Lakes Burrendong Menindee NEW SOUTH WALES The Murray–Darling rainbowfish (MelanotaeniaReservoir Wellington Weir 32 Mudgee Kinchega N.P. Tullamore fluviatilis) is a small, schooling species that was once widespread across the Basin. It can still be found in the middle and lower sections of the Murray Windamere Goobang N.P. Yathong River where it eats crayfish, snails and insects thatReservoir Rylstone State Forest Round Hill h fall in the water. Like many fish, it plays a role in nc Ivanhoe Nature Reserve ra ab helping to keep insects at a sustainable level and An g is also prey for larger fish and birds. Schools of up lin r ar ive D n R to 30 rainbow fish can often be seen swimming t Wi la Condobolin a llandra Creek ach re L just belowParkes the water surface. The colour of rainbow G fish varies based on gender, age and habitat, but is Lake Cargelligo generally silvery with a greenish iridescenceOrange and Danggali Portland Conservation Forbeswhite on the lower head and belly. SOUTH Park Lake Cargelligo Pooncarie Bathurst Hillston AUSTRALIA Lake Brewster r ive R ng Willandra Lakes region Carcoar Reservoir Burra rli Lake Cowal Da Oberon Mungo N.P.

Grenfell Cowra Booligal Sydney Lock 6 Morgan Riverland Goolgowi B West Wyalong la Wyangala Reservoir Lake Victoria n d Wentworth C Lock 9 re Lock 2 Lock 5 Lock 11 Cocoparra N.P. e River Murray Lock 7 k Lock 3 Great Cumbung Renmark Lock Merbein Swamp Lock 8 10 Mallee Cliffs N.P. Banrock Station Berri Mildura Barmera Blanchetown Griffith Young Lock 4 Red Murrum Hanwood Lock 1 bidge Cliffs e River Murray River N.P. Hay Temora Boorowa Crookwell Loxton Fivebough– Robinvale Tuckerbil Swan Reach Leeton Cootamundra Lock Balranald Hattah– 15 Kulkyne Lakes Narrandera Murray Sunset N.P. Ri ver M Billiat Conservation Hattah urra Hattah Lakes y Park Oolambeyan N.P. Adelaide Mannum Yanga N.P. Yass Hattah-Kulkyne N.P.

Moulamein k ree Tooleybuc o C Wagga Wagga Lake Ouyen N B nc iem illab Ya Murray Bridge ur ong Burrinjuck George Riv Cre Gundagai er Werai Forest ek Reservoir Lockhart Lake Brindabella N.P. Tailem Bend Pinnaroo Murrayville Alexandrina Tumut Canberra E Swan Hill dw Milang Lower Lakes ar and Coorong d R Jerilderie Blowering ive B T Wa l River r illa u Goolwa koo b m Reservoir Sea Lake ong Ginini Deniliquin Cr Henty u e t ACT Lake Albert e Flats Barrages k R i Murray Mouth v Tinderry Big Desert Finley e Wyperfeld N.P. Kerang Tu r Barham Koondrook– ppal C Nature Meningie Wilderness Wetlands reek Perricoota Namadgi N.P. Reserve Park Hopetoun Forest Millewa Forest The Coorong Kerang Talbingo Gunbower Torrumbarry Tumbarumba Lake Albacutya Forest Reservoir Weir Tocumwal R i ve Lake Mulwala urray Hume Reservoir r M River M Cabramurra u rr Barmah Forest Wycheproof ay Maragle State Forest Albury Adaminaby Lake Hindmarsh Kow Moama Yarrawonga Weir Corowa Swamp Broken Cre ek Wodonga Echuca Goul burn Lake Buloke Ri Khancoban Cooma Charlton L ver o Kosciuszko d d Nhill o Wangaratta N.P. Donald n Shepparton R M Ov it r iv e ta Blue Lake e n M ve A s i i vo r Bro Ri tta R c ke ve K R r n r i n a R i ve Little Desert N.P. R e iv e r o v e s St Arnaud iv i r Winton Wetlands w d e a r R r Av on R Dartmouth a Riv e Benalla h er p i c v i s Waranga Basin e Reservoir Horsham R a r Bendigo p m Mt. Buffalo N.P. Alpine N.P. W a C Bright im m e Cairn ra Lake Nillahcootie R i Curran ve r Reservoir Eppalock Maryborough Reservoir Seymour Castlemaine Mansfield Alpine N.P. Avoca Omeo Tullaroop Eildon Reservoir Halls Gap Reservoir Grampians N.P. Goulb urn R iver Kinglake N.P. Lake Eildon N.P.

VICTORIA Melbourne Who does what in the Barwon–Darling region

North West and Western Local Land Service (LLS) – Murray–Darling Basin Authority 1300 795 299 prepares, implements, monitors and reviews delivers services to improve primary the integrated plan for the sustainable use of production and assists rural and regional the Basin’s water resources communities to be profitable and sustainable. operates the River Murray system and delivers water to users on behalf of partner NSW Government governments allocates water to entitlement holders, coordinates delivery of water for the researches and monitors the quality and environment quantity of Basin water resources and the condition of its associated rivers, wetlands develops and implements water resource and floodplains plans. creates and shares information about the Basin’s water resources and dependent WaterNSW – 1300 662 077 ecosystems. operates and maintains dams and weirs to enhance water supply and security. Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder – (02) 6274 1111 Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) – manages the Australian Government’s water 1800 633 362 entitlements and allocations of water for the responsible for compliance and environment. enforcement of water management legislation in NSW. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment – 1800 803 772 NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries – responsible for efficiency programs and 1300 550 474 working with Basin states. oversees the management of fisheries including compliance, threatened species and habitat management.

NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) – 1300 361 967 manages allocated water for the environment, including adaptive environmental water licences held by the NSW Government

DPIE Water determines the volume of water available for allocation to towns, water users and the environment each year.

Connect with us. Local connection The MDBA has offices in Adelaide, Albury–Wodonga Canberra, Goondiwindi, Griffith, Mildura, Murray Bridge, your nearest MDBA office is Goondiwindi Toowoomba, and regional engagement officers around the Basin. 72 Callandoon Street, QLD 4390 1800 230 067 we also have an office inToowoomba [email protected] 123 Margaret Street, QLD 4350 mdba.gov.au #1484-20210211v4