The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) has released its second annual progress report highlighting key achievements during the 19-20 financial year.
NRAR Chief Regulatory Officer Grant Barnes has praised the work of the regulator during a tough year.
"Despite the challenges NSW has grappled with over the past 12 months- crippling drought, widespread bushfires and a pandemic - NRAR has built on the solid foundation it laid in its first year of operations to become a best practice regulator," Barnes said.
"As we report on the past year, it is important we look ahead to the next 12 months. We will continue to work with communities to improve our service and continue our work on significant water reform for NSW."
In the 19-20 financial year, NRAR's compliance staff undertook 509 property inspections, implemented 496 enforcement actions which includes the commencement of 15 prosecutions.
NRAR also finalised 1367 investigations of alleged breaches of NSW water laws, an increase of almost 70 per cent year-on-year.
This progress report outlines the strides the regulator has taken towards its goals of improving compliance with water laws by the state's water users and building confidence that water laws will be enforced. It also demonstrates that NRAR's constant efforts to become a world class, best practice regulator are well on the way to being realised.
NRAR also leads the way in technology. In 2019-20 NRAR equipped officers with new technology including the use of satellite imagery and analysis to cover much larger areas of the state, and drones and motion-activated surveillance cameras to ensure compliance with water laws.
NRAR's investigators and compliance officers travel all over the state's 58 water sharing plan areas, inspecting properties and assessing compliance with water users' licences and the Water Management Act 2000.
To see the work NRAR does, go to its public register on the NRAR website industry.nsw.gov.au/nrar. Go to 'Reports and data', then 'NRAR Public Register'.
