The Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers (DLGWV) is encouraging irrigators in Queensland’s Murray−Darling Basin to secure a subsidised telemetry device before funding ends.
Irrigators are required to have a compliant telemetry device installed by 1 December 2026 to meet the measurement requirements for their non-urban, surface water meters under Queensland’s water regulations.
Subsidised telemetry covers the full costs of supplying and installing telemetry devices, along with data transmission and any maintenance required during the first year.
Irrigators in the following Water Management Areas (WMAs) are eligible for subsidised telemetry:
- Condamine and Balonne
- Condamine and Balonne Tributaries
- Lower Balonne
- Moonie
- Stanthorpe
- Upper Condamine
DLGWV Executive Director of Regulation and Operational Support, Kelly Gleeson, said the department was committed to supporting irrigators to install telemetry devices by the deadline.
“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 delivers near real-time information to both irrigators and the department about water take, improving the accuracy, timeliness and efficiency of water management.”
“With a full subsidy currently available to cover the supply and install of telemetry devices, now is the time for eligible irrigators to install a compliant device and save on the upfront costs of meeting their measurement requirements,” she said.
Irrigators are currently supported through the $4.9 million Telemetry Uplift Program which is being delivered by the Queensland Government with funding from the Australian Government.
“Almost three hundred subsidised devices have been installed to date . But with many more irrigators required to have telemetry installed by 1 December 2026, I encourage those eligible to take advantage of the funding while it remains available and arrange their installation as soon as possible,” 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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