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Media Release - Ministers Office Sydney: 8 June 2005 LACHLAN VALLEY TOWNS TO BE ASSISTED BY CHANGES TO WATER ALLOCATIONS The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources has announced that water allocations for high security licence entitlements will be cut to 15 per cent as part of an ongoing program to secure the water supply for towns in the Lachlan Valley. “We do not take the modification of licence entitlements lightly, but the stress on the domestic water supplies along the Lachlan Valley is becoming increasingly critical, said Craig Knowles, NSW Minister for Natural Resources. “General security water licences remain at zero allocation. “All major towns in the Lachlan Valley are on at least level 1 water restrictions, some, such as Parkes are on level 3 restrictions, and in Lake Cargelligo there is no outdoor water use permitted at all. “The State Government is putting in place more than $15 million in projects that will assist in securing the town water supplies in both the short- and long-term in towns such as Cowra, Forbes, Parkes, Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo and Ivanhoe. “Access to water for irrigation and commercial purposes through water licences is always carefully monitored and controlled. In these times, where the drought is simply not alleviating, changing allocations is one way that we can maximise the supply for families in rural communities.” -ends- Media Contact: Kathy Connell 0419 239 178   Top of Page List of Media Releases © NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources