Water NSW meets with Menindee residents to discuss rejuvenated lake’s flows

Menindee residents have welcomed a local meeting with Water New South Wales representatives and say they hope it leads to more face-to-face discussions with water agencies.

About 30 people attended today’s community meeting which took place at the town’s basketball courts.

Water NSW said the gathering was about passing on key information to locals about how it is managing flows into and out of the Menindee Lakes system as more water makes its way down the river.

Local resident Ross Leddra said more meetings now needed to take place. 

“They’ve got to come out regular, four times a year, five times a year,” he said.

“Meet with the Menindee community, discuss … Menindee and the lakes and the Darling issue.

Billions of litres of water first arrived at Menindee Lakes in March 2020, where fish died en masse a year earlier after the lakes were drained following years of drought.

Good, robust conversation

Water NSW’s Adrian Langdon said it was important they kept listening to what locals had to say.

“Nothing replaces a face-to-face meeting. Whether it’s twice a year, three times a year, or four times a year … that varies based on what’s happening,” he said.

“Realistically you just need to be able to communicate and listen to locals more and get this input into what we’re doing.”

He said they had a good and robust conversation with locals, and that they would go away and take on their concerns and see what could be done.

Meeting welcomed, more discussions sought

Local resident Graeme McCrabb said the meeting was good but that it should have taken place in early December when locals did not know what was going on with water management decisions.

He said he would like more water agencies to speak with community members face-to-face on a more regular basis, including the Department of Primary Industries and Environment – Water (DPIE) which is speaking to a local stakeholder group about a water savings project for the lakes.

“Water NSW operates to the rules, DPIE sets them,” Mr McCrabb said.

The Department of Primary Industries and Environment – Water has been contacted for comment.