THE Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) will step up water compliance checks along regulated sections of the Hunter River catchment during May to improve water law compliance.
NRAR will visit properties across the Hunter region in the coming weeks to speak with water licence holders about their water take conditions.
The visits follow a review of Water Accounts Statements in 2023-24 that showed many water users had not placed sufficient orders for water through WaterNSW.
Field Officers will engage directly with licence holders to discuss key areas of compliance, including water ordering, metering, and logbook use.
NRAR Director of Regulatory Initiatives Andrew Howe said the visits are about ensuring everyone plays by the rules to protect shared water resources.
“The Hunter River is a vital source of water for towns, farms, industry, and the environment,” Dr Howe said.
“Accurate water measurement and ordering help to manage the system fairly and sustainably,” he said.
Dr Howe said adhering to water rules is essential for managing water resources and reducing the impacts of salinity.
“The Hunter is a highly sensitive and heavily used river system. It is particularly susceptible to salinity,” he said.
“Taking water without first placing a water order can mean that not enough water is released from upstream dam storages, which can then contribute to salinity issues downstream.
“Increased salinity can affect irrigated crops, fodder plants, pastures, fruits and vegetables, stock and drinking water.
“So, accurate ordering and metering are critical tools in managing this risk and ensuring the system remains sustainable for all water users.”
Dr Howe said taking water without approval or compliant metering was unlawful and could result in enforcement action by NRAR.
“Under section 60G of the Water Management Act, this can result in charges five times the value of the water taken, so the penalty can be really significant,” he said.
