‪“State Governments must urgently talk and agree to stop the reported release of water from the Snowy River while downstream rivers are in flood,” Coalition Murray-Darling Basin spokesman Simon Birmingham said today.

Snowy Hydro is apparently required by the New South Wales Office of Water, under its licence, to repay water to the system when inflows exceed a designated long term value. As a result, releases from Lake Eucumbene into the swollen Murrumbidgee River are reportedly continuing in the current flood conditions.

‪“Deals made in times of drought should be honoured but common sense must prevail,” Senator Birmingham said.

 

“Clearly, releases should not be made in situations where they would exacerbate harm.

‪“State authorities and management bodies need to come to a sensible resolution to what can only be described as a ridiculous situation.

"Common sense decisions on this issue must be made and, for the sake of all concerned, they must be made as soon as possible.”