The NSW Government is proposing further changes to the state’s non-urban water metering framework, with new rules aimed at improving compliance and strengthening confidence in how licensed water take is measured across regional NSW.
The proposed amendments to the Water Management (General) Regulation 2025 form the next stage of reforms following a review of the non-urban metering framework. The changes are now open for public consultation, with stakeholders invited to provide feedback before any amendments are finalised.
Under the proposed reforms, approval holders would be able to specify which access licence water is taken from when multiple licences are linked to a single water supply work. Holders of access licences with 3,000 or more unit shares or megalitres would also be required to annually attest to the volume of water taken under their licence.
The changes would also seek to simplify recording and reporting requirements where possible, clarify metering rules around some water trades, and introduce a new category for works that only take water under licence exemptions. Practical amendments are also proposed for activities such as cleaning fish screens.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said the reforms are designed to close remaining gaps in the metering framework and improve confidence that water is being taken lawfully and responsibly across NSW.
NSW DCCEEW Director of Metering and Licensing Dan Connor said accurate measurement and reporting remained critical for long-term water management, particularly as climate pressures intensify.
“Accurate measurement and reporting helps ensure water can be managed effectively for communities, industry, agriculture and the environment now and into the future,” Mr Connor said.
“Reliable metering data is critical for effective water management, particularly as we face more variable rainfall and increasingly challenging climate conditions.”
Mr Connor said the government wanted to hear directly from water users and stakeholders before making any final decisions.
“Before any changes are made, we want to hear directly from water users and stakeholders to ensure the framework works in practice,” he said.
He said the proposed annual attestation requirements for larger licence holders reflected the significant share of water take linked to major users.
“A relatively small number of larger water users account for the majority of licensed water take in NSW, so strengthening compliance in this area will deliver significant benefits for the long-term management of our water resources,” Mr Connor said.
The proposed changes come as governments and water agencies continue to face pressure to improve transparency and compliance around water use, particularly in regional and agricultural areas heavily dependent on regulated river systems.
Stakeholders will be able to provide feedback on the proposed reforms until 15 June 2026. The department will also host a webinar for holders of larger access licences on 26 May, alongside a public webinar on 3 June.
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