Focus area 2: Improving our regulatory presence

Our focus this year will be to continue to improve our regulatory presence. Our regulatory messaging will be more effective when targeting particular geographic areas or regulated communities. We also need to improve the timing of the messages, to ensure that expectations are communicated early to promote voluntary compliance.

Key activities for this year will include:

• engaging with high-risk regulated communities (including dam owners, water service providers, water users, water bore drillers and riverine quarry operators)
• communicating the benefits of compliance, how we monitor compliance and our enforcement actions
• using a range of communication channels to provide proactive and targeted compliance messages such as:
  • our websites
  • social media
  • media releases
  • newsletters
  • information/attendance at key industry events
• targeting regulatory messages to:
  • those impacted by new policy and legislative changes
  • areas of greater regulatory risk due to high rates of non-compliant activities
  • those within catchments that have been determined to be a high-risk in the statewide water use risk assessment.

In 2023-2024, we increased the use of communication channels. This included social media platforms which provided regulatory messaging to a wider audience. This aligns with the core principles of the Water Resource Management Regulatory Strategy (PDF, 552KB) of being an accountable, transparent, responsive and supportive regulator.

We have evaluated progress towards achieving regulatory outcomes. Information on progress and learnings from the previous annual compliance plan have been considered in determining the regulatory activities that will be undertaken this year.

Overview of the regulatory activities that will be undertaken for focus area 2