Eligible water users have three weeks remaining to opt in for free telemetry and installation, which will save them significant out-of-pocket costs and help them become compliant with metering rules.
Earlier this year, the Australian Government announced the $10.5 million Telemetry Uplift Program, which will deliver free state-of-the-art telemetry devices to more than 2,500 groundwater and surface water sites across the NSW Murray−Darling Basin.
The program aims to improve the state’s water monitoring and management, reduce users’ costs, and help NSW fast-track its metering reforms.
“We’ve already seen strong interest in this fantastic program from eligible water users across the state, but we want even more people to take part,” New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW) Director of Metering and Licensing Dan Connor said. “There are no strings attached – thanks to $10.5m in funding from the Australian Government, we will be providing thousands of free telemetry devices, along with installation and a generous defects warranty period, to eligible water users over the next two and a half years.”
Eligible water users have three weeks left to register their interest, and we urge them to visit the website to apply before submissions close on 31 March. Eligible sites include those extracting from groundwater and unregulated river sources in the Murray−Darling Basin with an annual entitlement of 100 megalitres (ML) or greater. Sites drawing from groundwater systems will be given priority.
“Inland works with entitlements of 100ML and greater are overdue to comply with the non-urban metering rules, including having telemetry in place,” Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) Director of Regulatory Initiatives Ian Bernard said. “This telemetry program aims to support water users and accelerate compliance, and we support any program that helps water users meet their obligations.
Telemetry supports sustainable water use by sending real-time data to water management agencies, helping to ensure licensed water taken from inland regional water sources is extracted fairly, equitably and according to the rules.
“NRAR continues to monitor and enforce compliance with the metering rules, focusing on high-volume, high-risk water users, including those targeted by the telemetry program,” Bernard said. “Act now to get into compliance and avoid consequences such as fines, interruptions to your water supply and, in extreme cases, prosecution.”
Accurate monitoring is crucial for water resource planning and compliance, and telemetry reduces the need for licence holders to report manually, saving them time and money.
“This program is a huge win for everyone. Not only does it save water users time and money while helping them comply with the metering rules, but it also enhances NSW’s ability to accurately measure each drop taken from our precious resources, particularly from groundwater, which is critical for maintaining a healthy environment across the Basin,” Connor said. “We invite all larger groundwater and unregulated river users within the Murray-Darling Basin and other licence holders who may be eligible to learn more and apply.”
NSW DCCEEW expects telemetry installations to begin in the first half of the year. For more information, visit the Telemetry Uplift Program.
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