The NSW Government has introduced a temporary exemption from the non-urban water metering rules for holders of small stock and domestic water access licences.

In September 2021 the NSW Government announced its intention to temporarily exempt small stock and domestic water access licence holders from the non-urban water metering requirements.

This has now been made into law via the Water Management (General) Amendment (Metering Equipment) Regulation 2021.

A work must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the exemption:

• a pump less than 100 mm in diameter or a bore less than 200 mm in diameter
• solely takes water under:
  • a domestic and stock water access licence (other than for town water supply), or
  • a domestic and stock water access licence (other than for town water supply) and a basic landholder right
• does not take water from an at-risk groundwater source
• is not listed under the same authority or linked to the same access licence as another work that requires a meter
• is not on the same landholding as another work that requires a meter and is held by the same person.

This exemption will lapse on 1 December 2024. It will be reviewed as part of the statutory review of the non-urban metering rules due to commence in early 2024.