WaterNSW criticised for ‘appalling’ decision after hundreds of turtles left to die in wetlands

Dried up wetlands in the Gwydir region. The NSW water minister said the government was working on reinstating flows ‘as soon as possible’. Photograph: Supplied.

A leading scientist has criticised an “appalling” New South Wales government agency decision to stop water flowing to wetlands in the state’s north-west, saying it was “absolutely crazy” that researchers had to scramble to save animals buried in drying mud.

Guardian Australia reported on Saturday that turtles, waterbirds, frogs and sheep had died after WaterNSW abruptly stopped flows to the Gwydir wetlands region near Moree in March.