New water metering framework released
The new NSW Non-Urban Water Metering Framework commenced on 1 December. It includes a policy, legislation and regulations to improve the standard of non-urban water meters in NSW.
Under the framework, new standards will apply for new and replacement meters from 1 April 2019, and large surface water pumps will need to comply by 1 December 2019. The standards will then be rolled out to all remaining users by December 2023
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Basin Ministers finalise negotiations
The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council met on December 14 in Melbourne to finalise negotiations on the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Minister for Regional Water, Niall Blair said it was the most significant step forward in delivery of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan since its inception in 2012.
“The negotiations are done. We now move to implementation. We now provide certainty for our communities,” Mr Blair said.
The Ministerial Council decided the process by which proposed efficiency projects that contribute towards the 450 Gigalitres of ‘upwater’ under the Basin Plan will be assessed for their socio-economic impact. These projects must have a positive or neutral outcome to proceed.
The NSW Government has also negotiated agreement on funding for the first stage of SDL projects, while the Commonwealth Government has agreed to allow for extra time for communities to consult on Water Resource Plans.
Click here to read the communique
To read the whole newsletter which includes segments on
- Drought update
- Update on water resource plans
& a lot of other relevant water news, including water resource plans on public exhibition, and temporary water restrictions for the Namoi regulated river system, click here
