NRAR clarifies position on floodplain harvesting following second disallowance

Statement | 18 May 2021

Water taken in NSW must be done so in accordance with the conditions of an access licence, works/use approval, exemption, or basic landholder right.

We expect water users to understand their obligations and to comply with the law. Any landholder considering floodplain harvesting may wish to seek their own legal advice.

The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) will continue to investigate alleged breaches of water law as we have always done. On a case-by-case basis in accordance with our regulatory principles, enforcement guidelines, and upon assessment of individual circumstances.

Our ‘eyes in the sky’ program, enabled by satellite technology, has been helping us keep a close eye on potentially unlawful water take around recent flood events. If we have reason to believe water has been taken unlawfully, we will refer these matters for investigation.


About Grant Barnes: As NRAR’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Grant is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the regulator which is charged with adding transparency and building community confidence in water compliance and enforcement in NSW.

About NRAR: NRAR was established in 2018 under the Natural Resources Access Regulator Act 2017 to be an independent, transparent and effective water regulator with total responsibility for the compliance and enforcement of water laws in NSW.

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