Water management and agricultural planning in New South Wales is set to receive a significant boost with 33 new seasonal streamflow forecasting sites coming online.

Monitoring these sites allows the Bureau of Meteorology to forecast likely streamflow volumes for the coming three months.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said the new sites would have clear benefits for the water market in Australia’s east.

“This will give New South Wales farmers more reliable information about how much water they’ll be able to take in the upcoming months so they can make sound business decisions,” Minister Littleproud said.

“This will help to reduce rural business risks and that’s extremely valuable for farmers who need to manage their resources carefully to turn a profit.

“The forecasts will help determine water allocations, cropping strategies, water market planning, environmental watering and drought management plans.

“The expansion of this forecasting service will see an increase in seasonal streamflow forecasting of almost 20 per cent across Australia.

“The Snowy and Hastings rivers are just some of those receiving forecasts of natural flows for the first time.

“These locations were chosen after talking with water users and the Basin states about the water information they need.

“The seasonal streamflow forecasts is just part of a suite of weather services for farmers which includes the weather bureau’s rainfall and temperature outlooks, 7-day streamflow forecasts and flood forecasting services.”

List of new sites

Name	Division	Region
Billabong Creek at Walbundrie	Murray-Darling Basin	Billabong-Yanco creeks
Billabong Creek at Aberfeldy	Murray-Darling Basin	Billabong-Yanco creeks
Macintyre River at Wallangra	Murray-Darling Basin	Border rivers
Castlereagh River at Hidden Valley	Murray-Darling Basin	Castlereagh River
Myall Ck at Molroy	Murray-Darling Basin	Gwydir
Flyers Creek at Beneree	Murray-Darling Basin	Lachlan
Lachlan River at Narrawa	Murray-Darling Basin	Lachlan
Murrumbidgee River at Mittagang Crossing	Murray-Darling Basin	Murrumbidgee River
Numeralla River at Numeralla School	Murray-Darling Basin	Murrumbidgee River
Yass River at Yass	Murray-Darling Basin	Murrumbidgee River
Butmaroo Creek at Butmaroo	Murray-Darling Basin	Murrumbidgee River
Macdonald River at Woolbrook	Murray-Darling Basin	Namoi River
Bemboka River at Morans Crossing	South East Coast (NSW)	Bega River
Clarence River at Tabulam	South East Coast (NSW)	Clarence River
Timbarra River at Drake	South East Coast (NSW)	Clarence River
Hastings River at Ellenborough (Kindee Bridge)	South East Coast (NSW)	Hastings River
Kialla Creek at Pomeroy	South East Coast (NSW)	Hawkesbury River
Goulburn R at Sandy Hollow	South East Coast (NSW)	Hunter
Hunter River at Moonam Dam Site	South East Coast (NSW)	Hunter
Allyn River at Halton	South East Coast (NSW)	Hunter
Karuah River at Booral	South East Coast (NSW)	Karuah
Tia River at Tia	South East Coast (NSW)	Macleay River
Styx River at Jeogla	South East Coast (NSW)	Macleay River
Ourimbah Creek at U/S Weir	South East Coast (NSW)	Macquarie-Tuggerah lakes
Barnard River at Mackay	South East Coast (NSW)	Manning
Myall River at Jacky Barkers	South East Coast (NSW)	Manning
Manning River at Killawarra	South East Coast (NSW)	Manning River
Myrtle Ck at Rappville	South East Coast (NSW)	Richmond River
Towamba River at Towamba	South East Coast (NSW)	Towamba River
Tuross River at Eurobodalla	South East Coast (NSW)	Tuross River
Maclaughlin River at The Hut	South East Coast (Vic)*	Snowy River
Little Plains River at Wellesley (Rowes)	South East Coast (Vic)*	Snowy River
Wullwye Ck at Woolway	South East Coast (Vic)*	Snowy River

* the river region is in South East Coast (Vic) drainage division, but the forecast locations are in NSW