Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) have stated irrigator compliance levels for stage one of the new metering framework "aren't as positive" as they would like.
However, NSW Irrigators Council have argued issues beyond the control of irrigators, such as supply shortages and floods, were delaying compliance.
They also clarified that meters are already in place to measure water take and that the metering reform was "about transitioning those meters to a new world-leading high standard."
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Large water users, with pumps 500 millimetres and above, were required to be compliant with the new metering rules - which include meters being fitted with telemetry technology - by December 2020.
NRAR chief regulatory officer, Grant Barnes said a desktop analysis found only one third of water users who fall into this category are on the pathway to compliance.
"This means that water users who own two thirds of the pumps in this group have potentially not taken action to comply with the new metering regulation and are not recording water take to the standard required by law," Mr Barnes said.
As part of an opinion piece written by Mr Barnes, he warned irrigators that "the time has come for us to take action and enforce the law".
In response NSWIC pointed to reasons behind some delay in compliance, including the pandemic leading to significant supply issues, whilst flooding had made some sites inaccessible for meter installation.
"The irrigation industry is working with NRAR and Government agencies to ensure a timely and efficient roll-out of the remainder of the metering transition, but calls on Government to resolve some procedural and technical barriers frustrating irrigators efforts to comply," a NSWIC statement read.
This is a very expensive process for irrigators to install new, highly-advanced meters, so we need everyone working together to get it done right.
"Water compliance is a matter we take very seriously. As an industry, we want this reform rolled out ASAP.
Mr Barnes acknowledged they had heard of barriers which had interfered with compliance, including limited certified professionals to check off the meters and genuine physical constraints to getting equipment on farm.
"We will be contacting and visiting the properties of all the water users in the first group over the coming weeks to understand where they are on the path to compliance, and to determine what legitimate barriers exist," Mr Barnes warned.
The remaining water users in inland northern NSW (with pumps under 500mm) will have to be compliant by December 2021, while inland southern basin water users have until December 2022 to be compliant.
The deadlines were pushed back by the NSW government by a year because low water availability had meant a significant number of water meters were unable to be tested and ticked off.
Additionally, there was a delay in the government releasing an approved list of telemetry equipment needed by irrigators to be compliant.
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