WaterNSW is still planning for "zero inflows" into Burrendong Dam despite signs the worst drought in more than a century could break.
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Its executive manager systems operations Adrian Langdon told about 40 Dubbo residents on Tuesday of recent rain helping to push the Macquarie River's cease-to-flow date back to March 2021 and an "improved" forecast for rain.
The manager told of the region having an even chance of receiving above-average or below-average rainfall in the coming months.
"I think towards the end of last year there was about a 20 per cent chance of average rainfall so it has improved in terms of the forecast," he said after a public information session about water run by Dubbo Regional Council.
"Look I think the signs are promising at the moment but the reality is it can turn very quickly.
"It can turn wet very quickly and it can turn dry very quickly."
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Recent rain has boosted the dam to 6.5 per cent of capacity after it had fallen to 1.2 per cent.
Winter rain in the "Macquarie system" has failed to fill the dam for an unprecedented three years.
Mr Langdon hopes it will return and "we see the drought breaking".
"Our storages are still very low across the state especially Burrendong Dam," he said.
A bulk transfer of water from Windamere Dam to Burrendong Dam and the pumping of its remnant storage water remain part of the plan to keep water flowing from the dam should the drought continue.
"We have to be continually monitoring that worst-case scenario of zero inflows and managing our water as efficiently as possible," Mr Langdon said.
The public information session in the conference room of the council's headquarters in Dubbo was live streamed with the video set to be posted on the council's website.
Director of infrastructure Julian Geddes and water consultant to the council Chris Devitt also addressed residents on water-security projects funded with $30 million from the state government.
They include a cross-city pipeline, new bores, the installation of smart meters and storm-water harvesting.
Questions were not taken from the floor because of a "citizenship ceremony" scheduled to be held in the conference room later on Tuesday.
Instead, community members were invited to direct their questions to council and WaterNSW staff during morning tea.
