Dharriwaa Elders Group

16/10/2026

Update for those who use our Namoi River walking tracks:

A tree branch has fallen on this sign and damaged it. DEG’s River Ranger team have taken down the sign, leaving the posts standing.
We plan to take this opportunity to update the information on the sign, and replace it (funds permitting) when we have prepared new content. We hope everyone can put up with looking at the sign posts for a while, while we are doing this!

08/10/2026

📣 Critically endangered Darling River snails discovered at Walgett weir! 📣

A once-abundant snail nearly disappeared as weirs and irrigation diverted water from its river home. But it found protection in the very structures that almost wiped it out.

24/09/2026

📢 CALL OUT TO WALGETT COMMUNITY

We would like to have your input for our 'River Truth Telling Project' If you need more information, give Zoe Sands a call on
0497 420 744.

22/09/2026

We would like to remind everyone as the weather gets warmer to watch out for snakes and stay safe!

Snake bite first aid fact sheet found on https://stjohn.org.au/fact-sheet/snake-bite/

19/09/2026

Water Quality Monitoring report 15 September 2026
😠 CONCERNING 😠

The pH readings were just outside the healthy range. The water was more alkaline than neutral.

The dissolved oxygen readings in the Baawan River at both sites are concerning. As it gets deeper the lower the dissolved oxygen is. At 3 mg/L fish kills happen. Over the next week the Ranger Team will keep monitoring these sites.

The salinity was within the healthy range. This is good for freshwater aquatic life.

The temperature readings that were outside the healthy range were on the colder side, but this could be because the temperature in the mornings is still quite cool.

Full report:
https://dharriwaaeldersgroup.org.au/images/downloads/WQMReport_15092026.pdf

16/09/2026

Water Quality Monitoring report 9 September 2026

The pH in the Ngamaay River was just a bit outside the healthy range but nothing to be overly concerned about. This means that the water in the Ngamaay River is more alkaline than acidic.

The majority of the readings at the 5 Mile (Baawan River) show that the dissolved oxygen was outside the healthy range which is not great. Fish kills occur at 3Mg/L.

The salinity was within the healthy range. The is good for freshwater aquatic life.

The temperature in the Baawan River was outside the healthy range. The weather is still quite cool in the mornings when the monitoring is being conducted therefore the weather could influence the water temperature.

Full report:https://dharriwaaeldersgroup.org.au/images/downloads/WQMReport_09_11_2026.pdf

08/09/2026

26/08/2026

Last July as part of the Kultarr Co Design Project with RSPCA NSW, our Rangers and RSPCA went door to door conducting a survey about cats and dogs in the Walgett community. The images show a summary of what we have found from the data that the community provided.

21/08/2026

Four little bidjaaymamal (fairy martin - Petrochelidon ariel) sitting in the tree hollows. Can you spot all four? 👀