Water regulator in Moss Vale for first time to help water users
Southern Highlands' farmers will have the chance to discuss the state's complex water laws when the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) comes to the AgriShow Farm Field Day at Mossvale on September 1-2.
Data gathered by NRAR in the first half of 2023 highlighted that some water users struggled to comply with the rules.
NRAR finalised 41 investigations across the region in the first half of 2023 and found the most common alleged water law breach related to carrying out illegal activities on waterfront land (controlled activities).
The Southern Highlands falls into the large Greater Metropolitan Water Sharing Plan (WSP) region that stretches from the Hunter Valley, through greater Sydney and down to parts of the Goulburn, Wollongong, and Shoalhaven Local Government Areas.
This WSP region has large areas of urban development, but also significant agricultural areas and major river systems such as the Wingecarribee, the Shoalhaven and Hawkesbury-Nepean.
Staff from NRAR will be at site number C04 to talk to water users about typical problem areas - including basic landholder rights, water meter requirements, where to get water licence and approval advice, and what can and cannot be done on waterfront land.
NRAR Manager of Education, Sarah Flowers, said helping and encouraging people to voluntarily comply with NSW water laws was fundamental to the way NRAR approached regulation.
"This is our first field day event in this region and we are keen to help people understand their obligations and to understand any issues specific to this area," Ms Flowers said.
"We believe the most effective way to deter breaches of water laws is to make compliance as easy as it can be. Our staff work hard to reduce the complexity of water law by providing plain English information tailored to the circumstances of individual water users," she said.
During the 2022-23 financial year, NRAR sought to speak directly with people in a variety of ways. Setting up at field days like AgriShow means NRAR can provide the chance for water users to have face-to-face discussions about compliance.
"Last year we attended nine field days, chalking up 95 hours of face-to-face education with 900 people who popped into our site at a field day. We answered more than 300 questions for them or referred them to the right agency to help them.”
AgriShow Small Farms Field Days run September 1-2, at Moss Vale Showground, 10am-4pm both days.
