Data shows taking too much water and meter breaches still common offences

Offences related to taking too much water and not having a compliant water meter remain the most common issues dealt with by the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR).

Compliance data collected by NRAR for the first half of 2023 shows that water law offences for illegal water take or metering breaches were the most common alleged offence found in 10 of the state’s 14 water sharing plan areas.

NRAR’s quarterly reporting tool shows that between January and June 2023 there were more than 300 alleged compliance offences recorded across NSW. These will be further investigated.

The data also showed that NRAR took more than 90 enforcement actions during the period, including issuing penalty notices, issuing directions and stop work orders, and formally warning and cautioning water licence holders.

NRAR Director Regulatory Initiatives Ian Bernard said that as the state moved into spring and summer, it was crucial that water licence holders knew and followed the rules and conditions that applied to them.

"The Bureau of Meteorology predicts below median rainfall and above median temperatures in NSW over the next three months.," Mr Bernard said.

"Accurately measuring and accounting for water use is aways important, but particularly when conditions are likely to start drying out. Now is the time to act to ensure you comply."

Mr Bernard said NRAR’s quarterly compliance reporting was a key part of the agency’s commitment to transparency and building public confidence in water management in NSW.

“The reporting tool breaks offence-types down by region so people can see how compliant local water users are and compare this with compliance in other parts of NSW,” he said.

Illegal water take and metering were a high proportion of alleged offences in the following water sharing plan areas:

TABLE: Proportion of alleged offences related to illegal water take or metering breaches by water sharing region. Shows three regions with the highest proportion or largest number of these types of offences.

The data also showed that the largest number of enforcement actions were taken in the Murray Water Sharing Plan area with a total of 40 actions, including 21 penalty notices, 1 stop work or other direction, and 18 formal warnings and cautions.

The next highest number of enforcement actions was in the Namoi Water Sharing Plan area where a total of 15 enforcement actions were taken, including 6 penalty notices, 3 stop work or other direction, and 6 formal warnings and cautions.

View NRAR’s public register to see significant enforcement actions taken in your area.