THE state’s water access watchdog has closed more than 70 investigations across the New England and North West, with more than half resulting in some form of enforcement action.
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The Natural Resource Access Regular (NRAR) was only formed in April last year, but it has been busy patrolling the region’s waterways to ensure everyone is only taking their fair share.
Currently, the organisation has more than a hundred cases on its books, stretching from the Liverpool Plains up to Moree Plains and Tenterfield.
In under a year, it’s sent out 40 advisory and formal warning letters. Penalty notices were issued in the Gunnedah Shire and Moree Plains local government areas, while two statuary notices were issued in the Tamworth LGA.
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NRAR western region regulation director Graeme White said it was clear the vast majority of people were doing the right thing.
“There are only a small group of people who knowingly do the wrong thing, who get the book thrown at them,” Mr White said.
Tampering with water metres and illegal pumping from unregulated rivers are among the more serious cases NRAR investigates, but it also looks into things such as floodway obstructions and digging too close to a river.
Mr White said the organisation practised a “firm but fair approach”.
“We want to help people into compliance,” Mr White said.
“People shouldn’t fear us helping them. We have a range of tools at our disposal and we’re not trying to catch people who are unknowingly doing the wrong thing.”
For the most part, NRAR’s compliance officers were received “quite well” by irrigators and farmers.
“That’s because people want to protect their water rights – if people are taking water they shouldn’t, that’s hurting everyone,” Mr White said.
“We’re getting our boots on the ground to see people across the region. Those doing the right thing don’t have anything to worry about. It’s the small minority that knowingly and willingly do the wrong thing that need to look out.”
As water supplies dwindle, water users of all sizes have come under increasingly scrutiny. Tamworth council, which is about to implement level three restrictions across the city, plans to ask the NSW government to suspend the Peel Valley water sharing plan, as Chaffey Dam continues to shrink.
Jamieson Murphy
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
