The creation of a new government department overseeing water management, and securing First Nations' rights to water are among some of the top priorities of the NSW Greens' latest pledge ahead of the state election on March 25.
The Save the Darling-Baaka River plan intends to shake up water management practices currently employed by the state government.
The election promise would see a Department of Climate, Water and Environment created, and have First Nations peoples' rights to water written into the Water Management Act.
The plan also includes the "protection" of downstream communities including Wilcannia, Menindee and Wentworth by ensuring the towns have sufficient flows.
Greens MP and water spokesperson Cate Faehrmann believes the National Party is the main roadblock to proper water management.
She said many of the measures the party have adopted are "completely outrageous".
"What I think has become clear to many to see over the past few years is just how embedded big irrigators are in the Nationals Party," she said.
"Water management is largely written in New South Wales for a handful of irrigators in the northern basin.
"At every turn, the national water minister tries to give more water to the north of the basin and less to downstream communities."
Ms Faehrmann said the Nationals' control of the waterways in Western NSW has resulted in unequal water distribution, dry riverbeds and thousands of dead fish.
Threat to the Murray River
NSW Water Minister and Nationals member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, pushed back against the allegations made by Ms Faehrmann.
Mr Anderson said the party was pushing heavily for licensing of flood plain harvesting to regulate water intake and to help achieve the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
"The Basin Plan must be delivered in a way that has community support and does not disadvantage farmers or communities," he said.
"Licensing flood plain harvesting will benefit water users, downstream communities, and the environment with up to 100 billion litres of water to be returned to the flood plains in the northern river valleys each year."
Minister Anderson said a potential Labor government with a Greens alliance would pose a huge threat to the Murray River.
Ms Faehrmann said it was vital that whichever party secured the water portfolio, Indigenous rights were protected.
"We aren't expecting First Nations communities to buy water through a water access license," she said.
"They should have a right to water and when they don't have access to water I've heard about how much it impacts them and hurts them."
