IRRIGATORS upstream of Bathurst on the Macquarie, Campbells and Fish rivers have all had their water allocation slashed as the state government seeks to extend the life of supply from Ben Chifley Dam.
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WaterNSW issued a statement on Thursday saying the temporary pump restrictions would come into effect for unregulated licence holders on Friday, November 1.
Affected farms, believed to be about 50 in total, will be cut back to just 20 per cent of their water allocation in line with a recommendation put to the government by Bathurst Regional Council.
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The order applies to irrigators on the Campbells and Macquarie rivers between Chifley Dam and Bathurst, and irrigators on the Fish and Macquarie rivers between Oberon Dam and Bathurst.
It does apply to access for stock and domestic supply.
"The intention is to extend the supply available for Bathurst town use and critical needs by reducing the demand on water releases from Oberon and Chifley Dam," the WaterNSW release stated.
... Farmers now have just 20 per cent of their allocation but no real certainty because they could be cut off altogether if the dam gets down to 22 per cent.
- Cr Jess Jennings
Councillor Jess Jennings called the restrictions "crippling" for irrigators who need to make decisions on their summer cropping.
"There is still a massive lack of certainty until the end of the summer cropping period because the 22 per cent 'cease to pump' rule is still in effect for Ben Chifley Dam," he said.
"This essentially means that farmers now have just 20 per cent of their allocation but no real certainty because they could be cut off altogether if the dam gets down to 22 per cent."
Ben Chifley Dam is currently around 43 per cent.
Irrigator Jeff McSpedden told the Western Advocate last month that the 20 per cent allocation would be tough for farmers but was understandable.
"If everyone put in their normal crop, we would run out of water in January ... and there'd be a cease to pump," he said.
"The problem then is you have a crop half grown. No one wants to do that; everyone says grow a smaller area and make sure it comes through and harvest it."
