Water flows to parched NSW wetlands could be turned back on within weeks as drought fears loom

Water minister Rose Jackson calls drying in Gwydir region ‘devastating’ as bill passes upper house

• Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here

Water flows to parched New South Wales wetlands where an urgent rescue mission to save dying wildlife unfolded are a step closer to resuming after legislation passed the state parliament’s upper house.

The water minister, Rose Jackson, told the parliament on Thursday night the impact of a halt to water flows in the internationally significant Gwydir region had been “devastating” as she introduced legislative amendments she said would allow flows to resume.

Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter