Armidale Regional Council proposes new drought management plan

The Armidale Regional Council is considering a draft drought management plan that introduces a behavioural component to water restriction thresholds. Under the proposed plan, increased restrictions could be triggered not only by dam levels but also by community compliance with water usage targets.

Services chief officer Darren Schaefer stated that if the community fails to achieve specific per-person daily usage targets, the council has the authority to move to higher restriction levels regardless of the height of Malpas Dam. Current water usage levels are reportedly not meeting established targets. The plan comes amid concerns regarding an El Nino forecast and a reported 20 per cent drop in Malpas Dam levels since early 2026.