Media Releases

08 October 2024

The NSW Government has recommended extending the metering compliance deadline until December 2026 for coastal water users.

Hunter Valley Water Users Association (HVWUA) chairman, Ken Bray, said the association has been advocating on behalf of water users in the Hunter for the past year, with this extension recognising the unique nature of coastal farming operations.

“This extension follows a long campaign by HVWUA, which included numerous meetings and submissions to the government's final report”, Mr Bray said.

“This outcome is a prime example of how important this group is; our members can focus on their farms and businesses producing food and fibre, while we engage with decision makers to achieve productive and sustainable policy outcomes.

“We support the Government’s decision to extend the coastal compliance deadline to 1 December 2026 and to remove pre-existing approval conditions that required early compliance. These changes will give water users breathing room to understand the updated metering rules and plan their next steps, while other compliance barriers are addressed.”

“Given the Government has come to the table and granted this extension, we encourage water users to stay informed about metering rules and continue taking steps towards compliance. We are here to help water users who would like assistance navigating what can be a very technical and complicated space.”

HVWUA will continue to work closely with the Government to resolve remaining issues of concern such as affordability, compliance requirements for wells, and how the proposed rules will apply to multiple water sources on the same landholding.

The report recommends:

1. For water users with surface water pumps of size equal to or greater than 500mm: No change, these works must comply now.

2. For water users with works nominated by 100 ML or more in entitlements, unless otherwise exempt under the size-based threshold: The new coastal compliance deadline is 1 December 2026.

3. For water users with works nominated by total entitlement of more than 15 ML and less than 100 ML: Pattern-approved meters can be installed, with DQP validation no longer required. LID/telemetry remains optional, and compliance has been extended to 1 December 2027. Recording and reporting of use are mandatory.

4. For water users with works nominated by total entitlements of 15 ML or less: Meters are not mandated, but recording and reporting of use are still required.

5. For water users with pumps and bores below the size-based thresholds (bores less than 200mm and pumps less than 100mm): Meters are not mandated, but recording and reporting of use are still required.

“The extra time is a significant relief for farmers in our coastal regions who have been struggling to navigate the cost and complexities of metering regulations,” Mr Bray said.

“HVWUA is very welcoming of new members and we would greatly appreciate the support of those people who are not yet signed up. We can achieve great things for water users in the Hunter when we present as a united front.

“If any water user would like to find out more about how we can support you please contact us at huntervalleywaterusers@gmail.com, or the NSW Irrigators’ Council head office on 9264 3848 or nswic@nswic.org.au and they can help you sign up.”

05 July 2024

Water users in coastal NSW are encouraged to check whether new metering rules coming into effect on 1 December2024 apply to them, and take steps towards compliance.

While the NSW government is considering requests to extend the 1 December 2024 deadline for coastal valleys to comply with the non-urban metering reform, Hunter Valley Water Users Association chairperson Ken Bray said coastal water users should still be proactive.

“There are simple steps water users can take before investing significant time, labour and finances in this reform,” says Mr Bray.

“The first thing is to make sure your water access licence and works approvals are up to date, and check you are adhering to the conditions on your licence. You can check this on the online NSW Water Register: waterregister.waternsw.com.au.

“Next, use the online metering guidance tool to check if the (current) metering rules apply to you and save a copy of the outcome. If the rules apply to you, contact a Duly Qualified Person via the online Metering and Measurement Virtual Marketplace: virtualmarketplace.waterinfo.nsw.gov.au. They’ll help you plan your next steps.”

In 2023, the NSW Water Minister announced a review of the metering rules to resolve compliance barriers beyond water users' control. This review is still in progress with outcomes to be released in the second half of 2024.

This means some current metering rules may be varied, but in general works needing a compliant meter include all surface water works (excluding pumps less than 100mm), all groundwater works (excluding bores less than 200mm), and all works in at-risk water sources.

Multiple pumps or bores also need to be metered, unless they fall below the capacity threshold. Some works are already legally required to have metering installed regardless of infrastructure size, as a condition of the water supply work approval or access licence.

Given the uncertainty on how rules may be varied, the NSW Irrigators’ Council (NSWIC) coastal forum in February wrote a letter to the Water Minister calling for a minimum 12-month coastal deadline extension to 1 December 2025. This will ensure water users can avoid unnecessary costs.

NSWIC coastal forum members are Bega Valley Water Users Association (BVWUA), Hunter Valley Water Users Association (HVWUA), and Richmond Wilsons Combined Water Users Association (RWCWUA).

You can read the NSWIC submission to the metering review at: www.nswic.org.au/metering-compliance