Tamworth Regional Landcare Association

Upper Namoi Water Symposium

Engaging community and stakeholders in planning for sustainable water use and rehydration of the Upper Namoi landscape.

Collaborations - LEP_13_LLCTRLA1

The issue

The Upper Namoi catchment, source of over 80% of water flowing into the Namoi River and the Murray-Darling Basin, is facing increasing pressure from climate change, population growth, agricultural demands, and fragmented water governance. Historically overlooked in policy and investment, this headwater region needs urgent, coordinated action to address the risks of drought, flood, and unsustainable water extraction.

The solution

In response, Tamworth Regional Landcare Association, in partnership with Tamworth Regional Council and the University of New England, convened the Upper Namoi Water in the Landscape Symposium on March 17, 2025. Over 100 stakeholders—landholders, policy makers, academics, and community leaders—gathered to share knowledge, hear from expert speakers, and collaboratively propose land, policy, and community initiatives to maintain water in the landscape.

The impact

the symposium resulted in broad consensus on the urgent need for localised groundwater modelling, rehydration programs, riverbank restoration, and education on water-sensitive design. It fostered cross-sector partnerships, elevated Indigenous perspectives, and sparked community-driven initiatives to optimise water retention, reuse, and stewardship in the region. The event laid the groundwork for a regional water resilience strategy driven by collaboration, innovation, and shared values.

Learnings

What worked:

  • Collaborative, multi-stakeholder planning enabled diverse voices to be heard.

  • Workshop sessions generated actionable local and regional project ideas.

What didn’t:

  • Lack of comprehensive baseline data limited the specificity of proposed solutions.

  • Continued work is needed to better integrate state and local governance frameworks.

for more information please use this link https://www.trla.org.au/what-we-do/upper-namoi-water-in-the-landscape-initiative/

Author: Ninna Douglas

Key facts

  • Held in Tamworth on March 17, 2025
  • Attended by 100+ stakeholders, including landholders, irrigators, Indigenous representatives, researchers, policy makers, and local council
  • Featured presentations from NSW Farmers, University of New England, NSW Department of Climate and Environment, and community leaders
  • Included interactive workshops generating project ideas across land management, policy, and education
  • Proposed initiatives included groundwater efficiency programs, riverbank restoration, regional rehydration efforts, and community education

Project Partners