Water restrictions ease for Narrabri

Published on 13 October 2025

Narrabri township will transition from Level Four to Level Three water restrictions from 7 pm tonight (Monday, 13 October), following strong community cooperation and an improvement in reservoir levels.

The Namoi Reservoir has now reached 82.12% capacity, supported by ongoing water-saving efforts from residents and the safe reintroduction of water from the Tibbereena Street bore to supplement water supplies.

Council is continuing to monitor and test water from the reservoir to ensure it meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and is safe for consumption.

General Manager Eloise Chaplain said the decision to move to Level 3 restrictions is a positive step forward that reflects both community action and careful operational management.

“With the change in consumption behaviour and the safe blending of water from the Tibbereena bore, we’ve been able to restore the reservoir to a healthy level. This allows us to ease restrictions slightly while continuing to protect our water supply.”

“It’s important to remember that Level 3 restrictions are still enforceable, and our compliance team will be monitoring water use to make sure we maintain this progress,” she said.

Meanwhile Narrabri Shire Mayor, Darrell Tiemens, acknowledged what an important role the Narrabri township community has played in making this change possible.

“We’re incredibly grateful to our community for taking Level 4 restrictions seriously and helping us reduce water use,” Mayor Tiemens said.

“We hope that they continue to follow the restrictions under Level 3 but enjoy the greater flexibility that this level of restrictions offers”.

Under Level 3 Water Restrictions, residents can water gardens and lawns only between 7pm and 7am, wash vehicles using a bucket, and top up existing swimming pools. Commercial premises and Council facilities are also subject to similar timing restrictions, with limited hours for irrigation of public spaces and sporting fields.

The Narrabri Splash Park will remain open under reduced operating hours — 12pm to 6pm on weekends, public holidays, and school holidays, and 3pm to 6pm on weekdays during school term.

“Council will continue to closely monitor water levels and quality, and we’ll keep the community informed about any changes or next steps,” Ms Chaplain said.

For full details on Level 3 restrictions, visit www.narrabri.nsw.gov.au/waterrestrictions