The Australian Government has commenced a limited tender process to purchase permanent surface water rights in the NSW Border Rivers and Namoi catchments as part of its Strategic Water Purchasing – Bridging the Gap program. Waterfind has been appointed as an Authorised Water Broker to assist eligible water right holders to prepare and submit tender responses.
What Is Being Purchased?
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is seeking to purchase an estimated 4.91 GL (LTDLE) of permanent surface water rights across two catchments:
NSW Border Rivers
- Target: ~4.30 GL/y (LTDLE)
- Regulated river (High Security, General Security A & B, Supplementary)
- Unregulated river (Croppa Creek and Whalan Creek only)
- Floodplain Harvesting (Regulated)*
NSW Namoi
- Target: ~0.61 GL/y (LTDLE)
- Lower Namoi Regulated River (High Security, General Security, Supplementary)
- Upper Namoi Regulated River (High Security, General Security)
- Peel Regulated River (High Security, General Security)
* Note: Border Rivers Floodplain Harvesting Licenses are eligible, but volumetric, geographical and decommissioning works (where applicable) considerations will apply.
Eligible Water Rights
| Water Source |
Water Right Type |
| Regulated River |
High Security |
| Regulated River |
General Security A |
| Regulated River |
General Security B |
| Regulated River |
Supplementary |
| Unregulated River (Croppa Ck & Whalan Ck only) |
Unregulated |
| Floodplain Harvesting |
Regulated ¹ |
| Lower Namoi Regulated River |
High Security |
| Lower Namoi Regulated River |
General Security |
| Lower Namoi Regulated River |
Supplementary |
| Upper Namoi Regulated River |
High Security |
| Upper Namoi Regulated River |
General Security |
| Peel Regulated River |
High Security |
| Peel Regulated River |
General Security |
¹ Border Rivers Floodplain Harvesting Licenses are eligible, but volumetric, geographical and decommissioning works (where applicable) considerations will apply.
Source: DCCEEW Approach to Market ATM_2025_5584, March 2026
Who Can Participate?
You may be eligible to participate if you:
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Eligible Water Rights
You own eligible permanent surface water rights in the NSW Border Rivers or Namoi catchments as listed in the table above.
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Minimum 10 ML Nominal Volume
Offers must be for 10 ML or more of Nominal Volume from a single water right. You must be willing to sell the water right permanently (not allocations or leases).
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Via an Authorised Broker
All offers must be submitted through an Authorised Water Broker. Water right owners cannot lodge directly with the Department. Waterfind is an appointed Authorised Water Broker for this tender.
⚠️
Not Land Acquisition
This tender does not involve land acquisition, leased water rights, or water types that cannot contribute to Bridging the Gap objectives.
Key Dates
| Milestone |
Date |
| ATM Released |
5 March 2026 |
| Limited Tender Window Closes |
11:00 am AEST, 12 May 2026 (unless closed earlier once target volumes are achieved) |
Important: The Department may stop considering offers at any time if the required volumes are met. Offers are assessed on value for money, not price alone. Environmental utility and market factors are also considered. Offers remain open for acceptance for 12 months, unless withdrawn or extended.
Disclaimer: This webpage provides general information only. It does not replace the official Approach to Market documentation (ATM_2025_5584). Water right holders should rely on the ATM documents and advice from an Authorised Water Broker when preparing an offer.
