Gwydir region

Overview

The Gwydir region covers The Gwydir catchment is within the 5360 km2 – around 2% of the traditional lands of the Gomeroi/ Murray–Darling Basin. Kamilaroi people.

The floodplains fo the Gwydir Copeton Dam, 35 km south-west of region include wetland Inverell, was built in 1973 to supply vegetation supported by natural water for irrigation, stock and channels, semi-permanent domestic requirements. It regulates wetlands and swamps. 93% of catchment inflows.

The region is predominantly The area is a popular tourist agricultural with dryland and destination due to its artesian spa irrigated cropping prominent. water from the Great Artesian Basin.

Image: Gwydir Wetlands on the Gwydir River/Gingham Watercourse, New South Wales Carnarvon N.P.

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W Chesterton Range N.P.

Charleville Mitchell

Morven Roma Cheepie Miles

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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 ve S Hungerford r Mungindi Tenterfield Elevation Goodooga 0-200m Torrington State er Legend Recreation Area iv Gwydir Riv R er e State border 200-400m ri er Basin border Pindari Reservoir ir iv B n R River/creek 1 2 ra ar Town/city 400-800m N Water storage/lake S er Enngonia Lightning Ridge eve v National Park rn i er Rive R iv Ramsar site Moree r (NS go R Warialda W) 800-1200m e a Irrigation area 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 Wee Waa Bundarra Namoi Riv Rivers/creeks er Mt. Kaputar N.P. Towns & cities Narrabri

Capital cities outside of MDB Gundabooka N.P. Louth Gwydir region Major water storages Pilliga West Byrock State Forest Uralla Key information Split Rock Wetlands and natural lakes Pilliga Reservoir Paroo–Darling The main towns in the Gwydir region Nature Manilla National Park are Moree, Uralla, Guyra, Bingara and k National parks Macquarie Marshes  Drought has significantlyReserve e Warialda with Moree being the largest e reduced rainfall in the past 3 r community in the region and home to C years, and the average annual about 7,383 people. s Keepit Reservoir White Cliffs x r rainfall is now 700-900 mm. Irrigation area ive o g R Coonamble C rlin The Moree Plains Shire covers an area Da of 17,930 km2, while the Gwydir Shire The Gwydir Wetlands are in the Country Gunnedah 2 of the Kamilaroi people and include more M covers 9,122 km and includes Bingara, than 160 cultural heritage sites including a which is home to about 1,428 people. Tamworth Paroo–Darling c burial sites, scar trees and stone artefacts. q u State Conservation Area a r i e Chaffey Reservoir Coonabarabran R Feature creature: i v e Black-tailed native hen Warrambungle r Gulargambone N.P. Werris Creek The black-tailed native hen (Tribonyx ventralis) feeds on seeds, plants and insects and plays an important role in dispersing seeds and keeping insect Wilcannia Cobar populations at a sustainable level. It prefers open ground near wetlands or at the waters’ edge and often Nyngan eats by running, then stopping, to stir up insects. C a The black-tailed native hen rarely flies, preferring to s t run across the landscape with its red legs flashing le r beneathWarren it. These birds are known to disappear from ea regions for many years and return with the rain. g h R iver Image by Ken Tay / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML296276551) Coolah

Coolbaggie Goonoo er Broken Hill gar Riv Nature State Talbra Reserve Forest Dunedoo

Menindee Main Weir B og Tottenham an Dubbo R iv Narromine er Menindee Lakes Burrendong Menindee NEW SOUTH WALES Reservoir Wellington Weir 32 Mudgee Kinchega N.P. Tullamore

Windamere Goobang N.P. Yathong Reservoir Rylstone State Forest Round Hill h nc Ivanhoe Nature Reserve ra ab An g lin r ar ive D n R t Wi la Condobolin a llandra Creek ach re L Parkes G Lake Cargelligo Orange Danggali Portland Conservation Forbes 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 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

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e v i

R

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r

a

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 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 3 4 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 5 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 6 Copeton Reservoir Bourke Weir Basin border NEW SOUTH WALES 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

Arounds the region Keepit Reservoir White Cliffs r x Irrigation area ive o R Coonamble C  Four sites in the lower Gwydir and ng The Great Artesian Basin covers about rli Gingham are internationally recognised a 1 Gunnedah 4 22% of the continent - including 12% of D for their habitat value for waterbirds. NSW. The warm artesian spa water is M These sites are Windella, Crinolyn a key tourist attraction, particularly in a and Goddard’s Lease on the Gingham Tamworth Paroo–Darling c Moree. q Watercourse, and Old Dromana on the State Conservation Area u a Lower Gwydir Watercourse. r i e The Terry Hie HieChaffey Aboriginal Reservoir area Coonabarabran R 5 features 6 significant cultural reserves i The Gwydir Wetlands is internationally v and is managed by NSW National Parks e Warrambungle recognised mainly for its large expanses r 2 and Wildlife Service and the Terry Gulargambone of vegetation, including large areas of N.P. Werris CreekHie Hie co-management committee. coolibah woodland and water couch. It was once an important ceremonial and gathering place for the traditional Moree supports a mix of dryland Kamilaroi (Gomeroi, Gamileroi, Wilcannia Cobar 3 and irrigated agricultural production Gamileraay) First Nations. Nyngan that uses both surface water and groundwater. Cotton is the main C  Copeton Dam is a major regional water irrigated crop and the irrigated area a storage facility and is also used for s includes permanent citrus and pecan 6 tl fishing, skiing and camping. e plantations. Warren re ag h R iver Image by Ken Tay / Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML296276551) Coolah

Coolbaggie Goonoo er Broken Hill gar Riv Nature State Talbra Reserve Forest Dunedoo

Menindee Main Weir B og Tottenham an Dubbo R iv Narromine er Menindee Lakes Burrendong Menindee NEW SOUTH WALES Reservoir Wellington Weir 32 Mudgee Kinchega N.P. Tullamore

Windamere Goobang N.P. Yathong Reservoir Rylstone State Forest Round Hill h nc Ivanhoe Nature Reserve ra ab An g lin r ar ive D n R t Wi la Condobolin a llandra Creek ach re L Parkes G Lake Cargelligo Orange Danggali Portland Conservation Forbes 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 Gwydir region

North West Local Land Service (LLS) – 1300 795 299 Murray–Darling Basin Authority delivers services to improve primary prepares, implements, monitors and reviews production and assists rural and regional the integrated plan for the sustainable use of communities to be profitable and sustainable. the Basin’s water resources

operates the River Murray system and NSW Government delivers water to users on behalf of partner allocates water to entitlement holders, governments coordinates delivery of water for the environment researches and monitors the quality and quantity of Basin water resources and the develops and implements water resource condition of its associated rivers, wetlands plans. and floodplains

creates and shares information about the WaterNSW – 1300 662 077 Basin’s water resources and dependent operates and maintains dams and weirs to ecosystems. enhance water supply and security. Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder – Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) – (02) 6274 1111 1800 633 362 manages the Australian Government’s water responsible for compliance and entitlements and allocations of water for the enforcement of water management environment. legislation in NSW. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries – – 1800 803 772 1300 550 474 responsible for efficiency programs and oversees the management of fisheries working with Basin states. 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 #1484-20210323v4