Dear stakeholders,

Water users in the NSW Southern Inland and Coastal regions will be given extra time to install non-urban metering equipment in the wake of significant rainfall and widespread flooding.

The deadline has been extended by 6 months for the Southern Inland and by 12 months for Coastal NSW to give water users a reprieve as they continue to face ongoing flood events. 

The new compliance dates are: 

• 1 June 2023 for Southern Inland
• 1 December 2024 for Coastal NSW.

The extensive flooding makes it difficult for farmers to access sites to install metering equipment. These extensions give water users a little extra breathing space on metering compliance dates.

If water users are replacing old or damaged metering equipment, they must ensure their new meters comply with non-urban metering rules regardless of the new compliance dates. If a meter has been moved or damaged due to flooding and is no longer operating properly, a 91i self reporting form must be submitted to WaterNSW. This form must be submitted within 24 hours of becoming aware that the meter is no longer operating properly.

While the timelines are being extended, water users who are able to install compliant metering equipment are encouraged to contact a DQP and put the technology in place well ahead of the new deadlines.

Work is currently underway to make regulatory amendments that will bring these changes into effect.