NRAR equips water licence holders with information they need to comply

Helping Gunnedah property owners better understand the state's complex water laws will be the focus for the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) at this year's AgQuip Field Days.

Data gathered by NRAR in 2023 highlighted that the most common issues in the Namoi Water Sharing Plan area related to alleged offences around taking too much water, or not having a correct water meter. More than 485 alleged breaches of water laws have been detected in the region since data collections began in mid-2019.

NRAR staff will be at site F07/a offering water users friendly advice and information about typical problem areas - including basic landholder rights, water meter requirements, licences and approvals, and works on waterfront land.

NRAR Education Manager, Sarah Flowers said making compliance as easy as it can be, and helping and encouraging people to voluntarily comply, is fundamental to the way NRAR approaches regulation.

“Our officers work hard to reduce the complexity of water law by providing plain English information tailored to the circumstances of individual water users,” Ms Flowers said.

“Setting up at field days like AgQuip means we can chat with water users about compliance.

“We can show landholders how to access their current licences or approvals and help find answers to any concerns and questions they might have about complying with conditions. Water users also have the opportunity to understand and clarify their responsibilities around recording and reporting water take.”

During the 2022-23 financial year NRAR attended 10 field days, speaking with more than 900 people who visited the NRAR site about water compliance and answering more than 300 questions with the information needed or referring them to the right agency who can help.

“A 15-minute chat with a member of our team can ensure you’re playing your part in helping all water users, communities and the environment get a fair share of the state's precious water resources.

"If you have any questions about these, or other issues, come down to site F07/a - and we'll be happy to help."

AgQuip Field Days runs August 22 to 24, 2023, on a site just west of Gunnedah NSW.

Stop by and meet NRAR staff on-site at AgQuip 2023 or visit nrar.nsw.gov.au for more information.