The Federal Government has launched a new water purchase round in the New South Wales Murray and Lower Darling catchments.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham made the announcement this week, saying he antipcpate fairly strong demand from irrigators will mean eight or nine gigalitres of water will be purchased from both regions.

The water purchase round will be open until 5pm on April 28 for water entitlement holders to make an offer.

It is reportedly the last of its kind this financial year.

“Our Government will work towards implementing the Basin Plan in line with our commitment to a 1500 gigalitre cap on buybacks,” Senator Birmingham said.

“The main focus for our water recovery activities is now on infrastructure and efficiency projects.

“Unlike Labor's open slather approach, we will undertake the required residual water recovery through small, orderly, targeted and appropriate approaches to the market.

“In this small tender round up to $10 million is available for purchases, with the tender only open to holders of water entitlements in the NSW Murray and Lower Darling catchments,” he said.

“Over the next few years we anticipate undertaking a limited number of small tenders, in line with this purchase, to ensure that the small amount of buyback undertaken is not disruptive to the market or irrigation communities.”

Further information including program guidelines and application forms are available from the Department's website.