Reacting to the news that the Twynam Group has sold its 240 gigalitres of entitlement to the Commonwealth for $303m, the Council’s CEO, Andrew Gregson, says NSW has more than done its fair share.

“Every major water purchase has come from NSW - Toorale, Tandou and now Twynam,” Mr Gregson said.

“There has been no attempt on behalf of the Commonwealth to purchase from other States.

"The Commonwealth has done nothing to force the removal of trade restrictions that other States have in place, making them complicit in the devastation of rural and regional communities in this State."

Mr Gregson also says the Commonwealth has not progressed the infrastructure upgrade projects that it has promised.

“We’ve argued all along that water must be obtained from infrastructure upgrades at the same time as purchase," he said.

"Infrastructure upgrades deliver environmental water whilst enabling the continued existence of regional economies and communities.

"Not a cent of the money promised for infrastructure has been spent in NSW.

“It’s time for the Commonwealth to publicly recognise that irrigators and their communities in NSW have done their bit.”