Barwon Darling water users must comply with floodplain rules by April 1 if they plan to harvest floodwater

5 March 2024

Water users in the Barwon Darling Rivers water-sharing area will not be able to legally harvest floodwater without a licence and compliant metering equipment from the start of April.

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) said as of April 1, 2024, water users intending to capture water moving across a floodplain must have primary metering equipment installed by a qualified installer.

NRAR Director Education and Engagement Keeley Reynolds said the NSW Government’s reforms to control floodplain harvesting within legal limits became law for the Barwon Darling system in 2023.

"Having a licence means people have the right to capture and store water as it flows across the floodplain, but it also means they have to measure and report their water take as set out in the conditions of their linked water supply works approvals,” Ms Reynolds said.

“That means installing compliant metering equipment," she said.

Ms Reynolds said NRAR would use state-of-the-art satellite technology to monitor compliance with the floodplain harvesting rules.

“NRAR’s spatial analysts will check satellite imagery of on-farm storages (pictured) over time to see when dams are being filled from storm runoff. This will be compared with rainfall data for the location and specific water licence conditions to determine if any rules have been broken.

Ms Reynolds said licence holders in the Barwon Darling region have had a year to comply with the new rules.

“We understand there are some barriers, but we expect water users to make every effort to comply by their deadline.

“We’ll discuss any problems that they’ve faced and take them into consideration.

"However, if they choose to capture water from a floodplain without a licence or without compliant metering equipment, we may take enforcement action regardless of those barriers.”

Ms Reynolds said NRAR was committed to ensuring all water taken in NSW was done in accordance with the rules for the benefit of all communities and the environment.

“Now is the time to act so that when it rains, licenced water users are compliant and can legally capture water from the floodplain.

“Accurate measurement underpins effective management of the state’s water resources. The best way to achieve that level of accuracy is through installing telemetered metering equipment.”

From April 1, 2024, secondary metering equipment such as a gauge board or an approved automated storage volume measurement device can now only be used in these valleys if the primary metering equipment is installed but not operating properly. Water users will also need to notify WaterNSW.

The Border Rivers/Gwydir and Macquarie Water Sharing Plan areas have already reached their floodplain harvesting deadlines.