The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) has released its regulatory priorities for FY 2022-23 and has set its sights on the irrigated agriculture industry in the Murray, Murrumbidgee and the Far North Coast.

Water entitlements in NSW are worth about $29 billion and irrigated agriculture contributes around $3-4 billion annually to the NSW economy.

NRAR’s Director of Regulatory Initiatives Ian Bernard said this sector accounted for most of the water taken from rivers and had the potential to cause significant harm if even a small amount of that take was unlawful.

“Our regulatory priorities identify and target problem activities, areas and industries that may have high levels of non-compliance with water laws or the potential to cause harm to the environment or surrounding community,” said Mr Bernard.

“Almost 80 per cent of water taken across NSW is used to irrigate agriculture so this sector requires robust regulation.”

NRAR has two other regulatory priorities for FY 2022-23. These are:

• Water metering with a spotlight on Duly Qualified People (DQP)

The non-urban water metering reforms are one of the most significant changes to water management in NSW over the last few decades and will improve accountability of water use and the ability to enforce the law.

Over the next 12 months, NRAR will continue to check compliance with remaining works in the Northern Inland that needed to comply by December 1.

NRAR will soon start checking compliance with works in the Southern Inland that need to comply by December 1.

DQP’s are an integral component to implementation of the metering reforms and NRAR will continue to support and monitor the scheme to ensure its effectiveness.

NRAR will focus on working with extractive industries to develop a standardised reporting framework to demonstrate compliance with water regulations so that water take is accurately measured, modelled and accounted for.

NRAR’s four enduring priorities represent more complex or enduring issues that will be a focus over a number of years.

NRAR’s enduring priorities remain unchanged from last year:

• accurate water measurement
• aboriginal cultural and spiritual values in water regulation
• unlawful activities that cause significant harm to the environment and other water users
• unauthorised structures that prevent water from getting to where it should on the flood plain.

“We look forward to continuing our work with water users across the state and thank them for their ongoing cooperation and willingness to follow the rules,” said Mr Bernard.

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 28 July 2022.