The Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers (DLGWV) has amended the Water Regulation 2016 to support irrigators in the Queensland Murray−Darling Basin to meet their upcoming water measurement requirements.
Irrigators in several Water Management Areas (WMAs) located in the basin will now have until 1 December 2026 to install a telemetry device on their non-urban, surface water meters.
The 12-month extension applies to the following WMAs:
- Condamine Balonne
- Condamine Balonne Tributaries
- Lower Balonne
- Moonie River Catchment
- Stanthorpe
- Upper Condamine
Subsidised telemetry is available to eligible water meter owners, covering the full costs of supplying and installing telemetry devices, along with data transmission and any maintenance required during the first year.
DLGWV Executive Director of Regulation and Operational Support, Kelly Gleeson, said the department was committed to supporting irrigators to keep costs down and meet their water measurement requirements.
“Queensland has a strong track record of delivering sustainable water management in the Northern Murray Darling Basin – and accurate measurement is essential to support this now and into the future,” Ms Gleeson said.
“Telemetry will help provide more timely and reliable water-take information. We want to make installing and using telemetry devices to meet regulatory requirements as simple as possible for irrigators. This extension and subsidised telemetry will help clear the way, reducing financial pressure and ensuring a smooth transition to the new measurement requirements,” she said.
Irrigators are currently supported through the $3.7 million Increase Telemetry Capability project, a program that fully subsides the cost of installing new or updated telemetry devices, and any data or maintenance costs for the first year.
The program is delivered by the Queensland Government with funding from the Australian Government.
“I encourage irrigators to use this additional time to make sure their telemetry device is installed and operational before the new deadline of 1 December 2026,” Ms Gleeson said.
For more information on telemetry devices and how to arrange installation of a subsidised device, visit: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/mining-energy-water/water/measurement/telemetry-devices
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