Toorale Station was jointly purchased by the Australian and NSW governments in 2009 to protect its outstanding environmental and cultural values. Toorale was formerly a 91,000 ha agricultural property at the junction of the Warrego and Darling rivers in north-west New South Wales. It is now a National Park and State Conservation Area. The associated water rights acquired with the property totalled 25.5 gigalitres (GL), consisting of Warrego and Darling River licences and a high-flow licence for the Western Floodplain. The licences were transferred to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) in 2012 and 2013.
The Western Floodplain is a large wetland covering over 10,000 ha on the western bank of the Warrego River. Toorale Station has over 130 years of pastoral history. It has seen significant water infrastructure development. This included works to aid watering of the Western Floodplain to support the growth of native pastures for grazing. Over decades, this water diversion has created a thriving floodplain wetland. Its history, environmental and cultural values qualify it for conservation status which is supported by water for the environment when available.
The CEWH works with state partners to deliver water for the environment to achieve environmental outcomes for vegetation, hydrology, birds, native fish and other aquatic animals.
Toorale purchase, infrastructure agreements and works
The aim of the purchase was to maintain and protect the existing cultural and natural values of the land, including the Western Floodplain. It also aimed to return more water to the Darling River and downstream environments.
As a part of the agreement, water infrastructure on Toorale was to be modified, demolished or decommissioned to enable environmental flows on and through the property.
Significant works have been undertaken on the property to improve flows, connectivity and fish passage, including:
- Boera Dam modifications - increased capacity to pass flows down the Warrego to establish and maintain connectivity with the
- Barwon-Darling. Also added a fishway to provide fish passage independent of the lay flat gates.
- Homestead Dam - modified to reduce the amount of water that is held in the dam and to pass additional flows. Also added a fishway.
- Removal of Peebles Dam - allows flows to pass unimpeded to the Darling.
- Ross Billabong - infrastructure removed to increase flows to the Darling and improve fish passage.
