THE following revealing images were taken last weekend around Cobbs Hut on the Macquarie River in central western NSW.
This section of river is where the Orange City Council plans to construct a 40 kilometre pipeline to pump water from the river to back up the Orange township’s water supply in times of drought. (Related story here).
As can be seen in these photos taken by concerned angler and anti-pipeline advocate Colin Gordon, the river’s level is very low with minimal flow occuring between pools and many areas little more than exposed rocks and sand.
According to a monitoring gauge situated at Long Point, the level of river flow is currently at 77 ML (Megalitres per day). Disturbingly, it has been reported that the Orange City Council has labelled a flow of 38 ML as a “high flow” and the level at which it plans to pump out 12 ML per day – if the pipeline is constructed.
If these images show a river in times of “high flow” Fisho would be loathe to see this important waterway in times of “low flow” …
The flow figures above were taken at Long Point from a gauge situated just to the right of the rockbar in the image at top.
