Namoi farmers cop river pumping embargo, while Whitehaven Coal mine gets an exemption

The NSW government has barred all pumping from the Namoi catchment except by high-security licence holders, citing the "critical human need" in towns running out of water, such as Walgett.

Boggabri farmer Andrew Watson said in the past, embargoes had prevented all water users from pumping regulated rivers such as the Namoi, while those on small tributaries such as the Mooki were allowed to continue.

However, this current embargo prevents pumping from those smaller creeks.

"This is much wider than it has been in the past, but it doesn't include the mines, and we're all wondering why," Mr Watson said.

"My question is: does water for washing roads and coal take priority over critical human need?

"If the answer is because of jobs at the mine, then what about the agricultural jobs?

"Are they less important?"

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Namoi Water chief executive Jon-Maree Baker is also frustrated by the mine's exception.

"Our capacity to produce is at the complete mercy of the elements - the mine is still able to continue whether it rains or not," Ms Baker said.

The only other high-security licence holder in the region is the Australian Cotton Research Institute, which does not pump outside the cotton season.

The NSW Department of Industry did not respond before deadline to the Leader's questions about why high-security licences were exempt.

However, a spokesperson said in a statement: "Whether flows reach Walgett depends on the size of the inflow rather than water take by high-security users." 

A Whitehaven spokesperson said the company held both high-security and general-security licences, and was "not a large water user".

"We have a range of water storage locations on site that provide sufficient storage capacity," they said.

UPDATE: Response from NSW Department of Industry about why high-security licence holders were excluded

"Recent intense rainfall resulted in a small, natural unregulated flow in the Namoi," a spokesperson said.

"Due to extreme drought conditions and water shortages, water was prioritised for critical human needs and in-stream environmental benefits, in accordance with the Water Management Act 2000.

"Under this act high security access licences also have priority over other access licences.

"It was determined that domestic and stock, and high security entitlement holders with access to water could pump while still protecting water for critical needs."

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