Exemptions for areas with no telemetry coverage
The NSW Government has developed a telemetry coverage tool to identify your telemetry coverage in NSW. This tool can assist you and your meter installer to identify your telemetry network coverage. If you are in a blackspot an exemption may apply.
Are you in a telemetry blackspot area?
The Minister has granted an exemption for floodplain harvesting works that are required to connect to telemetry but cannot because they are in a site that does not receive network coverage.
The exemption will only apply when a person notifies the department, using the correct form, that the work is in a telemetry blackspot area.
The exemption is intended to apply only to works that are physically unable to comply with telemetry requirements. The exemption will be reviewed as technology and network coverage improves, to ensure these works comply with the telemetry requirements when it is possible to do so.
The exemption:
- automatically applies when a water used notifies the Minister, using the Floodplain harvesting telemetry exemption notification form (PDF, 133.06 KB), that they are in a telemetry blackspot area, based on the telemetry coverage report
- exempts the work from the data logging and telemetry requirements for floodplain harvesting
- requires the water user to:
- install, use and maintain a secondary metering device, or
- comply with all requirements of point-of-intake metering equipment except data logging and telemetry requirements
- requires a water user to record and report their water take, based on reporting requirements that apply to secondary metering devices and point-of-intake metering equipment
- applies to only one work approval per exemption notification form. For further exemptions please complete separate forms.
Obtaining a floodplain harvesting telemetry exemption
Step 1 – generate a telemetry coverage report for your site
The department has developed an online telemetry coverage tool to allow water users or duly qualified persons to identify whether a site is within telemetry network coverage.
To generate the report you will need:
- work approval owner’s name
- work approval number
- latitude/longitude of the meter location – to at least 6 decimal places (you can obtain these coordinates from Google maps and most smart mobile phones if you are onsite)
- Registration of Interest number (ROI) and the Infrastructure Item Number (e.g. BR001-1). The ROI can be found on your Water Infrastructure Plan (WIP) and the Infrastructure Item Number is the number that is related to specific infrastructure or work on your WIP. If you need a copy of your WIP, please email metering.reform@dpie.nsw.gov.au.
Generate a telemetry coverage report.
The report will automatically download to your computer. Please remember to save the report for your records.
Note: The information you provide is only used for the purpose of generating the telemetry coverage report and is not stored by the department.
Step 2 – interpret the report
How to interpret the report
Blue pixels (squares) on the report indicate network coverage areas.
White pixels indicate the site is outside a network coverage area.
To be automatically exempt, a work site requires at leave one white pixel between the work site location and the nearest blue pixel.
| Automatically exempt | Not automatically |
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The telemetry coverage report is generated by querying the three nearest Telstra towers with 4G NB-IoT or LTE Cat M1 networks to your meter. The report shows:
- Property Details: captured from the information you entered
- General View: shows the overall telemetry coverage from up to three of the nearest Telstra towners, within a 30 km coverage radius
- Detailed View: shows the meter site at a closer scale, giving a clearer indication of coverage
- Elevation Profile: shows the ‘line-of-site’ path from the meter site to the three nearest Telstra towers. This view highlights any coverage obstacles. In some circumstances, a raised antenna can be used to get coverage (speak to your DQP).
Note:
- The telemetry coverage report does not show mobile phone coverage, which may be different on the same site.
- The telemetry coverage report does not meet WCAG compliance requirements. If you need assistance in reading this document, please contact 1300 081 047 or water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au
Step 3 – complete the floodplain harvesting telemetry exemption notification form
If the telemetry coverage report shows that your work is automatically exempt, download and complete the floodplain harvesting telemetry exemption notification form. (PDF, 133.06 KB)
Step 4 – email the floodplain harvesting telemetry notification to the department
Submit the completed floodplain harvesting telemetry exemption notification form together with your telemetry coverage report, Water Infrastructure Plan and any additional attachments to metering.reform@dpie.nsw.gov.au
Use the subject line: FPH telemetry exemption notification
Are you in a telemetry area, but cannot get coverage?
If you are not automatically exempt but you believe you are in a blackspot area, you can engage your DQP to do an onsite telemetry connectivity test.
If this test demonstrates that your work site is not in a coverage area, submit the floodplain telemetry exemption notification form along with this supporting information demonstrating connectivity issues, the Water Infrastructure Plan and any additional attachments to metering.reform@dpie.nsw.gov.au
Use the subject line: FPH telemetry exemption request – online telemetry coverage by no on-site connectivity.
Contact us
If you require assistance in reading these documents, please contact 1300 081 047 or water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au