The NSW Government is seeking feedback on additional changes to the draft Water Management Amendment (Metering) Regulation 2019 due Monday, 12 August via the NSW Government Have Your Say portal.
The GVIA has taken this opportunity to again highlight key challenges that our members and water users across the state are having with implementing the NSW Non-Urban Water Metering Regulations.
As explained during the metering roadshow in Moree, most of our members are required to have compliant water meters by the first roll-out date on 1 December 2019 with remaining water users on the 1 December 2020.
With this in mind, our major concern is the ability of our members to meet their obligations by this first roll-out date. The reasons are two-fold;
However, it is the second issue which is most concerning considering it was clearly articulated during consultation on the regulations that the timeframes were aspirational and that it is actually, government delays that has rendered the policy unimplementable to this point.
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Enable individuals to seek ‘Ministerial exemption for a transitional status’ to meet mandatory metering requirements in exceptional circumstances such as no water availability to undertake manadorty testing of equipment. An application can be made following advice from a Duly Qualified Person, who has assessed the site for all requirements other than any required wet-testing procedures and therefore is systematic approach for all impacted water users to provide due evidence of effort and outline a work plan to achieve compliance.
Amend roll-out date for meters requiring government approved data loggers and telemetry to begin from 1 December 2020. Importantly this approach more time to:
Extending the telemetry timeline does not detract away from the accuracy of meters or the fact these meters are securing recording data via existing data loggers with tamper evident seals. Therefore, this minor extension is a practical solution that will deliver and enduring and achievable outcomes.
To help demonstrate the challenges of implementation, it would be of assistance if members could individually make submission supporting these recommendations but also providing YOUR specific issues with implementation like water availability, lack of services, ordering delays, larger off-takes with limited options (other than the fact you do not know the telemetry requirements).
Other outstanding issues include:
For Members, more information on the metering requirements are available on the Member
Update page
(you must have your login details to access).