The NSW Government has built a compliance and enforcement regime that ensures strong and certain regulations for water in the state.
The Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) is an independent regulator established under the NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator Act 2017.
NRAR is responsible for enforcing natural resources management legislation. NRAR is responsible for detecting, preventing and stopping illegal water activities relating to areas such as water acquisition and use, environmental concerns such as water runoff, and the safety of infrastructure.
Find more information on the licensing, management and regulation of water and the water industry by the Department of Planning and Environment - Water, WaterNSW and the NRAR on the NRAR website
Four key agencies are involved in the licensing and compliance of water use in NSW: Department of Planning and Environment - Water, WaterNSW, NRAR and NSW Environment, Energy and Science Group.
Local water utilities and the state-owned corporations Hunter Water and Sydney Water also undertake roles in water management. For more information on what each agency does see Who’s who in water management
The objectives of the NSW Government in relation to the end-to-end licensing and compliance process are:
- clarity of organisational purpose and focus for each agency through clearly defined functions
- efficiency of delivery so there is no overlap or duplication of functions and activities or cost to the taxpayer and./or end use customer.
- seamlessness of operation so there are no ‘gaps’ in the delivery chain between agencies and their respective roles
- transparency and simplicity so rules are clear, understood and enforceable
- cost-effective services that are delivered by the most appropriate government entity.
Why are there different rules for managing water across NSW?
Watch this short video.