NRAR has flagged this growth — particularly downstream of the Barmah-Millewa Reach — as a risk, especially during dry periods when water prices spike.
NRAR director of regulatory initiatives Andrew Howe said the regulator would take a low-tolerance approach to water-take offences but was giving growers fair warning to prepare.
“Our staff have recently met with peak industry bodies to ensure they understand the risks and the high likelihood of detection if rules are broken,” Dr Howe said.
“We’ll also contact more than 300 licence holders with high-water-needs permanent crops to encourage planning for adverse conditions.”
Dr Howe said NRAR’s research showed many growers were not adequately prepared for increased water demand.
“The risk is that supply pressures will combine and lead to non-compliance.
“That’s exactly what we aim to prevent.
“Being prepared, especially in dry conditions, is the best way to avoid issues with the regulator.”
Over the next year, NRAR will actively monitor for unlawful water use in the southern Murray-Darling Basin, targeting offences such as:
• overdrawn water accounts
• failure to pre-order water
• taking water with non-functioning meters
• unapproved water works
NRAR will use satellite and remote sensing technology to flag sites where water demand may exceed allocations, triggering rapid investigations when potential breaches are detected.
“Now is the time to act — understand your licence and approval conditions and have a plan for dry conditions,” Dr Howe said.
