Queensland has amended its water regulations to give irrigators in the Murray–Darling Basin an additional 12 months to install telemetry devices on non-urban surface water meters, extending the compliance deadline to December 1, 2026.
The change applies to several Water Management Areas across the basin, including the Condamine Balonne, Condamine Balonne Tributaries, Lower Balonne, Moonie River Catchment, Stanthorpe and Upper Condamine systems.
Telemetry installation is a key requirement under Queensland’s water measurement framework, designed to improve the accuracy, timeliness and transparency of water-take data across regulated catchments.
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Supporting irrigators through transition
The extension follows feedback from irrigators and reflects a broader effort by the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers to support compliance while managing cost and logistical pressures in regional areas.
Eligible water meter owners continue to have access to subsidised telemetry, covering the full cost of supplying and installing devices, as well as data transmission and maintenance for the first year. The support is delivered through the $3.7 million Increase Telemetry Capability project, jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian governments.
DLGWV Executive Director of Regulation and Operational Support Kelly Gleeson said the approach is designed to reduce financial pressure while maintaining regulatory intent.
“Telemetry will help provide more timely and reliable water-take information,” Gleeson said. “We want to make installing and using telemetry devices to meet regulatory requirements as simple as possible for irrigators.”
Why telemetry matters for basin management
Accurate measurement is central to sustainable water management in the Murray–Darling Basin, where competing demands and variable climate conditions place pressure on shared resources. Telemetry enables near-real-time reporting of water use, supporting compliance monitoring, improved water accounting and more informed management decisions.
Gleeson said Queensland’s approach builds on existing practices.
“Queensland has a strong track record of delivering sustainable water management in the Northern Murray–Darling Basin, and accurate measurement is essential to support this now and into the future,” she said.
By extending the deadline while maintaining the requirement, regulators are signalling that telemetry remains a core part of long-term water governance, rather than a temporary compliance exercise.
Encouraging early installation
While the deadline has been extended, irrigators are being encouraged to install devices as early as possible to avoid last-minute delays and ensure systems are operational ahead of the new date.
“I encourage irrigators to use this additional time to make sure their telemetry device is installed and operational before the new deadline of 1 December 2026,” Gleeson said.
For the water sector, the extension highlights the importance of sequencing reform carefully, balancing enforcement with practical support to ensure new measurement requirements deliver the intended benefits without unnecessary disruption.