Government Water Cut Sparks 'Incomprehensible' Wildlife Catastrophe in NSW Wetlands
An environmental disaster described as "incomprehensible" is unfolding in the Gwydir wetlands of New South Wales, following the abrupt cessation of environmental water flows by the state water agency, WaterNSW. This decision has led to the tragic deaths of hundreds of turtles, waterbirds, frogs, and sheep, with researchers from the University of New England (UNE) desperately attempting to rescue over 300 stranded turtles left to perish in the dried-up wetlands near Moree.
Scientists Dig to Save Stranded Turtles as Ecosystems Collapse
Video footage reveals scientists digging through thick, boggy mud to reach a large female broad-shelled turtle trapped in the Gingham watercourse, where water has completely dried up. Dozens of other turtles face similar fates, with many already dead, including older females carrying eggs that were hoping to nest. Environmental flows, which involve releasing water from dams into rivers and ecosystems to restore health, were meant to continue until mid-to-late April but were stopped in early March after a landholder complaint about overflow on their property.
Prof Deb Bower, a conservation biologist at UNE, labeled the scene a "disaster," stating, "These deaths are incomprehensible, given there is environmental water sitting in the dam. This could save the turtles, but WaterNSW is just not allowing its release." The Gingham watercourse supports four internationally important Ramsar-listed sites, with wildlife relying on rain, floods, and managed environmental flows under the Murray-Darling basin plan.
Wider Ecosystem Impacts and Government Response Criticized
Bower emphasized that the dead and dying turtles are merely the most visible sign of broader ecosystem damage. In a perverse twist, her team was asked by the NSW government to rescue living turtles while water that could save them remains held in Copeton dam. "We rescued 40 turtles over the last four days, 39 of which have gone to Taronga Zoo in Dubbo," she said, describing the arduous process of digging animals out of thigh-deep mud. "It’s ludicrous that the state government is paying to relocate these turtles to Taronga Zoo when the same state government is withholding water that could save those animals and all the other wildlife."
Jonathon Guyer, a local grazier and conservationist, reported that the sudden stop in flows caused the deaths of many native animals, including fledgling chicks, abandoned eggs, and 90% of frogs in the wetlands. Endangered migratory species like Australasian bitterns and painted snipes have fled the area. Guyer, whose family has conserved wetlands for decades, discovered over 100 bogged sheep and had to euthanize 56 older ewes attacked by crows. "The devastation of it all is heartbreaking," he said. "I know what these wetlands are like when they’re alive, and they’re so incredibly beautiful. To see them now in such a state and knowing what has been lost is devastating."
Political Outcry and Calls for Immediate Action
Cate Faehrmann, a Greens member of the NSW legislative council, visited the site and captured video footage, declaring, "An environmental catastrophe is happening right now under this government’s watch. These wetlands should be thriving at this time of year, supporting thousands of migratory shorebirds and waterbirds, turtles and fish." She urged the water minister to issue an urgent directive to restart environmental flows, noting that water laws prioritize ecological values.
In response, NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged the situation, stating that WaterNSW has temporarily suspended releases inundating private land. "We are working to identify pathways to reinstate those deliveries while managing liability as soon as possible," she said, adding that 39 turtles have been relocated to Taronga Western Plains Zoo and will be returned after the waterhole refills. WaterNSW directed inquiries to Jackson's statement, emphasizing that most environmental water releases remain unaffected.
This crisis highlights the fragile balance between land management and environmental conservation, with urgent calls for policy reassessment to prevent further wildlife losses in critical wetland ecosystems.
