AN irrigator in NSW has paid $15,000 to restock fish in the Namoi River after over-extracting more than 500ML of water.
The irrigator paid Narrabri Fish Farm to restock the river with fingerlings after they were alleged to have taken 585ML above their extraction limits between 2018 and 2020.
The NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator’s (NRAR) Graeme White said the quantity of water, equivalent to 234 Olympic swimming pools, was taken from an at-risk Lower Namoi Groundwater Source.
“Bore extraction limits protect fragile ground water sources from harm,” Mr White said.
As part of the enforceable undertaking the irrigator entered with NRAR, they will forfeit 584.8ML, or about 36 per cent, of their 2021-22 water entitlement and paid the water authority $10,000 to cover investigation costs.
The irrigator, who owns a 1239-hectare property, will have to install new meters and telemetry on all company water extraction sites.
