NSW viticulturist accused of stealing 13,000 megalitres of water from Darling River

Regulator alleges 5,200 Olympic swimming pools' worth of water was illegally pumped from the river over four years

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A vineyard operator has been accused of illegally pumping 5,200 Olympic swimming pools" worth of water from the Darling River in south western New South Wales over a four-year period.

On Monday, the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) said it had begun a significant" prosecution in the NSW Land and Environment Court against the Lower Murray vineyard operator.

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