The NSW metering rules apply to all works and compliance will be assessed against your work approval - not what is in the ground and whether you use it or not.  If you do not actively use these works or do not have any infrastructure installed, you are not required to have a meter.
Before a work will be tagged as inactive, YOU MUST demonstrate the work is not physically capable of taking water and REGISTER your work as inactive.  This is done through WaterNSW.
Registering your work inactive will ensure you avoid being non-compliant to these rules by the relevant due date; either 1 December 2020 for larger than 500mm sites or 1 December 2021 for all other sites.   This applies to both surface and groundwater works. identify

Save the Date: The GVIA will host the Smarter Irrigation for Profit 2 field day on Wednesday the 10th of February 2021. We will be having the field day at Keytah, where several of our Smarter Irrigation researchers and partners will be talking about new technology, smart sensing and remote control. Follow the link to the website for more information on Smarter irrigation for Profit 2

The Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association will host an online Annual General Meeting on 30th September 2020, starting at 10am.  The AGM will be followed by a General Meeting until 12pm.  The location will be the GVIA office, 100 Balo Street Moree.  Our COVID Safe Plan restricts the number of attendees and as a result, we will be providing an online option via Microsoft Teams for video conferencing or dial in.  Members must RSVP to either secure a seat in the office or receive their personal conference link.  Nominations for the GVIA Committee are being received, please see the link below to access the nomination form.  All financial members as of June 2020 are eligible to nominate.

NSW DPIEW have released a new guide: 'What water users need to know' about the NSW non-urban metering reforms.  This handy tool outlines the required steps for water users to take to ensure they are compliant by the required due date, the first of which  is 1 December 2020. New telemery devices have also been added to the list of approved devices, which we are informed can be ordered via your supplier. 
Local certified meter installers can be located via the Irrigation Australia website and searching for a CMI:  https://www.irrigationaustralia.com.au/ 

Here is our first reminder regarding the first deadline for the NSW Non-urban water metering reform for larger than 500mm surface water pump installation is quickly arriving, with all works finalised by 1 December 2020.

It is important that everyone assess using the NSW Government's  Metering Tool whether you are required to have your surface water metering work checked and validated or a replacement meter installed with telemetry by this date.   All water users must assess their obligations and MAKE DUE EFFORT to meet these obligations in the required timeframe.

NSW DPIEW announced a 1.7% allocation to General Security and environmental water holders for the end of July 2020.  This brings total available water to General Security water users to 22,000ML with environmental water holders having 34,000 ML, not including high security water.  Copeton Dam is holding 14.7% capacity with essential supplies secured for two-years.

This means now every 1% that Copeton Dam increases by can equate to an estimated 1.89% allocation for General Security and environmental water holders.

The NSW Government has launched the Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Policy 2020 for the northern Murray–Darling Basin - Wednesday, 19 August 2020, 10:30am - 12:30pm.

The policy applies to landholders in the northern Murray–Darling Basin who will receive a floodplain harvesting water-access license under the NSW Floodplain Harvesting Policy (2018) in 2021 and will allow water harvested from northern Basin floodplains to be accurately and reliably measured for the first time.

The NSW Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Policy will be rolled out in stages and water users will be required to comply with the floodplain harvesting measurement rules by July 2021 or July 2022, depending on their onsite storage capacity.

The NSW Government released the NSW Floodplain Harvesting Measurement Policy 2020. This announcement provides one of the missing pieces to understand how NSW plan to manage this access under a licencing regime, which is due for implementation by 1 July next year in the Gwydir Valley. We e have been calling on the policy for some time, so that water users have due time to meet their obligations.
“The policy is an ambitious program but an important step forward in water management that our local industry has been committed for a long time to achieve.”
Photo: Storage device already installed on an empty storage, waiting for the drought to break.

Follow the link to the recent GRDC Irrigation update with input from Nick Gillingham from Keytah and Lou Gall from GVIA. There was also a great presentation from Matthew Harrison on WaterCan Profit. Thank you to GRDC and ICAN for the opportunity to participate. 

Smarter Irrigation for Profit Phase II is a partnership between the irrigation industry, research organisations and farmer groups, the objective of which is to improve the profit of over 4,000 cotton, dairy, rice, grains and sugar irrigators. There are 14 sub projects including: New irrigation technologies such as new sensors, advanced analytics to improve irrigation scheduling and strategies to reduce water storage evaporation. Cost effective, practical automated irrigation systems and a network of 36 farmer led optimised irrigation sites such as Keytah here in the Gwydir. We have just launched our new web page for of videos and project information. .  

The Feral Pig monitoring program supported by the NSW Government and the NW LLS is drawing to a close. We have conducted a range of monitoring and management activities including collaring and tagging pigs, trapping and shooting.  As we move into our winter cropping season pig damage will become more evident, especially as many pregnant sows have been observed. The GVIA can provide support to local landholders who participate in group control activities and would appreciate information on crop damage caused by feral pigs. Please contact us for more information. 

An independent panel has released a draft report on the management of the 2020 northern Murray-Darling Basin first flush event that restricted access in the Gwydir Valley to unregulated, supplementary and floodplain harvesting in February 2020. 
The panel is seeking community feedback on its draft report following an earlier public consultation in May 2020 and are hosting an online webinar with their draft results on Monday, 27 July at 1pm. 
Its encouraged all members should participate.
Limited capacity is available in the GVIA office to attend due to COVID restrictions, please contact the office.