Due to heavy rainfall and flooding across the New South Wales Coast and in the Southern Inland, the deadline for water users to install non-urban metres will be extended to the regions by twelve and six months, respectively.
Director of Water Planning Implementation, Allan Raine, said the Department of Planning and Environment is extending the deadline by six months for the Southern Inland and by 12 months for Coastal New South Wales to give water users a reprieve as they continue to face ongoing flood events.
“La Nina has brought relentless rainfall, making it difficult for farmers to access sites to install technology, so we’re giving water users a little extra breathing space on metering compliance dates,” Mr Raine said.
“With the original deadline for Southern Inland fast approaching I know many water users have already installed the necessary equipment and I commend them for being proactive.
“For those yet to become compliant, I hope this extension can take the pressure off during a stressful and difficult time.”
The new compliance dates are:
- 1 June 2023 for Southern Inland
- 1 December 2024 for Coastal New South Wales
If water users are replacing old or damaged metering equipment, they must ensure their new meters are compliant with non-urban metering rules regardless of the new timelines.
“While we’re extending the timelines, I still encourage those water users who are in a position to install approved metering equipment to get on the front foot and put the technology in place well ahead of the new deadlines,” Mr Raine said.
“New South Wales remains committed to delivering a robust water metering framework, which aims to measure every drop, because if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
“Once compliant equipment is in place the non-urban metering rules will ensure New South Wales can improve the way it manages water use across the state securing a better water future for the next generation.”
Work is currently underway to make regulatory amendments that will bring these changes into effect.
Featured image courtesy of New South Wales Government. Caption: Rearview shot of a male farmer tending to his crops on the farm
