Hillston's dry Lake Woorabinda will not be refilled until Carrathool Shire Council puts together an integrated water cycle management strategy.
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The lake has remained empty since last year after council was denied approval to transfer 275 megalitres of their high security town allocation into the lake as storage.
According to a spokeswoman for the NSW Department of Industries, the department was first made aware of council's request in the December last year and refereed the request to their body the National Resource Allocation Regulator (NRAR).
According to the spokeswoman NRAR denied the request on the basis of council not having submitted a water management plan for review or advice in the past 12 months.
Left with an empty lake over the Australia Day long weekend Carrathool mayor Peter Laird was livid, letting his displeasure with the 'bureaucracy' behind the department of industries be known.
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"It's obviously something the department pulled out of the wood," councillor Laird said.
"It's something I have done for the last 20 years no problems, the only inconvenience was having to get minister's approval."
Following a visit from Niall Blair this week councillor Laird said he appreciates the assistance council will be receiving from the department although he is disappointed the lake will likely not be refilled until later in spring.
"Niall's going to refer it to the licencing section of Water NSW he said he will do an undertaking to sort it out," Cr Laird said.
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