Story in partnership with the Natural Resources Access Regulator.
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Time is running out for NSW northern inland water users to comply with new non-urban water metering regulations.
The next deadline in the NSW Government's state-wide roll out of these laws is now just over a month away on December 1, 2021.
By that date all works must comply, including pumps above 100mm and bores above 200mm in the Macquarie, Gwydir, Namoi, Border Rivers and Barwon-Darling regions, as well as some at-risk groundwater sources.
The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) is committed to helping water users know the rules through their metering video and webpage.
NRAR Chief Regulatory Officer Grant Barnes said water users should take several initial steps to ensure they meet compliance obligations:
1. CHECK your works approval details on the NSW Water Register to ensure what is listed matches what is installed on the ground. Also check if there are any existing metering conditions that need to be met now. WaterNSW can assist you to amend approval if you need to change the size of your pump or make a work inactive.
2. CONTACT a Duly Qualified Person (DQP) to discuss your metering requirements and options. A list of DQPs can be found on Irrigation Australia's website.
3. ENGAGE a DQP to install a meter and lodge a validation certificate when the work is done.
"The new metering framework requires water take to be metered and that meters are accurate, tamper-proof and independently verified," Mr Barnes said.
"The rules are being rolled out in stages until December 2023 to ensure all water users have enough time to comply," he said.
"Once fully implemented in December 2023, the metering rules will be consistent and streamlined across NSW, replacing the current requirements which vary for each water sharing plan area.
"We have always been a firm, but fair regulator. We are charged with enforcing the law and expect water users in the Macquarie, Gwydir, Namoi, Border Rivers and Barwon-Darling regions to show they have made reasonable efforts to comply with the new regulations by December 1, 2021.
"We're confident water users are committed to doing the right thing, with some already able to show reasonable efforts have been made.
"The new metering framework will make it more efficient for water users and enable them to more effectively manage their water use."
