NSW coastal water users are calling on the NSW Government to urgently address a metering
bottleneck, warning farmers are running out of time with limited access to Duly Qualified Persons
(DQPs) and financial support ahead of the 1 December compliance deadline.
The NSW Irrigators' Council (NSWIC), the peak body representing NSW irrigators, has written to NSW
Water Minister Rose Jackson urging immediate, practical on-the-ground support for coastal water users
struggling to meet new metering requirements.
NSWIC CEO Dr Madeleine Hartley said the pathway to compliance is far too complex, costly and
difficult to navigate.
"We are hearing from farmers who are trying to do the right thing but are receiving inconsistent advice
from water agencies, cannot find a local DQP, or being quoted thousands of dollars for installation and
validation – money farmers simply don't have," Dr Hartley said.
Dr Hartley said the scale of the problem was becoming clear, with current estimates suggesting 3000
coastal works will need to become metering compliant in the next four months. With fewer than 15
DQPs understood to be operating across the NSW coast, from Lismore to Bega on the South Coast,
this presents a challenge beyond the control of water users.
"The system does not have the capacity to meet the December deadline," Dr Hartley said.
"Some coastal water users have reportedly been quoted up to $10,000 per work for metering
installation, adding pressure to farmers already facing rising production costs and recovering from the
2025 floods," Dr Hartley said.
Dr Hartley said urgent action was needed to give farmers a realistic pathway to compliance.
"Coastal water users want to comply, but they need the DQPs, support and time to get it done. The
NSW Government needs to take action to ensure they can," Dr Hartley said.
NSWIC is calling for:
– A Coastal Metering Uplift Program to connect water users with approved duly qualified
persons, backed by up to $2,000 in financial assistance for meter and telemetry installation.
– Community drop-in centres in coastal metering hotspots so farmers can access face-to-face
advice.
– A metering amnesty until at least 1 July 2027 for farmers affected by the 2025 coastal
disaster declaration.
