Water regulator on Central Coast to check water law breaches
Water users on the Central Coast received a visit from the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) last week to check they were complying with state water laws.
Field officers from the independent water regulator visited about 60 properties in the region, checking logbooks and other water licence conditions were met.
NRAR Acting Director Education and Engagement, Keeley Reynolds, said inspections were to assist water users to comply, to give them confidence to meet their obligations, and equip them with the right information for their situation.
Ms Reynolds said the most common issues uncovered by the recent site visits were water users failing to keep their water licence details up to date and not notifying WaterNSW when pumps or bores were decommissioned.
“We also learned that the most common compliance breach was water users not monitoring their water take and completing a water take logbook,” Ms Reynolds said.
Field officers also explained extended deadlines for the rollout of non-urban water metering requirements across NSW.
Meters are required for pumps 100mm and above, bores 200mm and above, and some at-risk groundwater sources and smaller pumps with existing metering conditions.
Central Coast water users with these kinds of pumps and bores have until 1 December 2024 to make sure they comply with non-urban water metering rules.
“2024 might seem like a long way off, but now is the time to start taking steps to get a meter installed,” Ms Reynolds said.
Ms Reynolds said figures from NRAR quarterly reporting showed the Central Coast had a good record of water law compliance to date with only four penalty notices and fines issued in the nine months from January to September 2022.
“Three of these fines related to unauthorised activity within 40m of a watercourse, and one was issued for a breach related to a dam.
“NRAR knows from four years of operation that most water users consistently stick to water rules.
“We also know the regulatory system is extraordinarily complex, and that has meant people who try to comply sometimes make mistakes.
"Our field officers are out there to help them through advice and guidance, and that approach has always been central to our activities.”
