NSW water law compliance data for spring-summer 2024-25 has shown an increase in the number of fines (penalty notices) issued by the NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) compared to the same period in 2023-24. 

The number of fines issued increased from 26 to 44 for the period across NSW. 

NRAR issued fewer directions and stop work orders over spring-summer compared to last year (110, down from 139) but the number of formal warnings and official cautions issued remained steady on 118. 

The number of inspections done by the independent regulator increased by 66% compared to the same period last year (171 to 285). 

NRAR received 1171 suspicious activity reports in the spring-summer period 24-25, and 490 of those were referred for further investigation.  This is similar to the previous year when there were 1358 suspicious activity reports and 356 referred for further investigation. 

Of the state's 14 water sharing plan regions, the North and Far North Coast regions had the highest number of penalty notices issued (16). That is a 300% increase on the same time last year and more than double the next highest total of 8 recorded in the Murray Water Sharing plan region. 

The Namoi Water Sharing Plan Region had the highest total number of enforcement actions in NSW for the period with 50, including fines, directions and stop work orders, formal warnings and official cautions. 

TABLE: Compliance data for the five NSW water-sharing plan regions with the highest number of enforcement actions for spring-summer 2024-25.  

In all the listed regions (above) the most common offence types detected by NRAR staff in spring-summer were alleged unlawful water take, non-compliant metering or failing to comply with approval conditions. 

NRAR Manager Compliance Investigations, Tim O’Connell, said releasing compliance data was an important part of NRAR’s commitment to transparency about its activities and results.  

“A variety of compliance data is publicly available on our website, and this gives confidence to the public that water is being managed effectively, and action will be taken when rules are broken,” Mr O’Connell said.  

“When we decide how to respond to breaches of the law, we focus our efforts and resources on those that pose the greatest risk of harm to communities, the environment or other water users,” he said.  

“A lot of people are already doing the right thing, and we are encouraged by that. 

“The number of breaches is small compared to the 39,000 licences monitored by NRAR, but that said, even small breaches matter because together they can add up to a serious widespread problem.” 

You can see more compliance data for your area on their online dashboard.  

Case study: Gunnedah region

The offence: A Gunnedah region landholder was investigated by NRAR after a public tip off in 2020 lead to the discovery that water in a creek had been diverted into the landholder's farm dam. 

Our response: NRAR issued a direction to remediate the site and ensure that the original course of the stream was restored. The regulator continued to monitor the area and ensured that the creek diversion was removed and the watercourse restored. This occurred at the end of 2024. 

The result: The creek is now flowing properly along its course. This is particularly important for a koala habitat downstream.