NSW water compliance reform: Expected changes in 2018
NSW irrigators will soon be subject to a host of new water compliance reform obligations, due to a swift government crackdown in response to the concerning revelations of ‘Pumped’, the ABC Four Corners program aired in July 2017. By Alex Silcock, Compliance Quarter. Following the public reaction to the program, the NSW Government commissioned an ‘independent investigation into NSW water management and compliance’. The investigation was undertaken by Ken Matthews AO and the final version of the report was released on 24 November 2017. The NSW Government has already acted on Matthews’ interim report by passing the Natural Resources Access Regulator Bill 2017. The new legislation establishes an independent water regulator (NRAR) which the government perceives as representing ‘the beginning of a period of reform and improvement for compliance and…