Focus area 3: Non-compliant behaviour and activity spotlights

We take a risk-based approach when investigating non-compliance behaviour and activities. This means we assess any non-compliance we have identified and then prioritise it for investigation and necessary action.

Compliance action for each risk must be effective, efficient and proportionate. It must align with the principles of the Water Resource Management Regulatory Strategy (PDF, 552KB). We aim to reduce non-compliant behaviour by promoting cases that demonstrate the consequences. This includes fines, reduced access, and legal action have escalated for compliance action.

We are a data and intelligence led regulatory agency. We work to improve how we monitor compliance. This includes enhanced:

detection capabilities
data collection
intelligence gathering.

This helps us align regulatory strategies with outcomes by identifying:

trends
current and emerging risks
behavioural drivers for non-compliance.

We are progressing policy, legislative and systems reforms, and working closely with stakeholders to take a modern, best practice approach to regulation.

In 2023-24, the department continued to meet its regulatory responsibilities and address non-compliance proportionately. Investigations and enforcement action is resource intensive and requires a long-term investment to achieve regulatory outcomes.

We have evaluated our progress and the learnings from the strategies and activities in 2023-2024 have been considered in setting the activities for this year.

Overview of the regulatory activities that will be undertaken for focus area 3

Regulatory tool	Objectives	Activities
Monitor	Ensure compliance across our regulatory activities by monitoring risk and impacts to water resources, the environment, and communities.	Use a variety of audit and detection methods for intelligence purposes i.e. remote sensing, data analytics and desktop tools. Improve systems and data quality. Develop and maintain strategic partnerships. Monitor and communicate legislative reform. Supported by focus area 1 activities
Respond and enforce	Address risks and issues to improve compliance and achieve water resource management outcomes. Ensure our responses are targeted and proportionate by making fair, transparent and evidence-based decisions.	We will continue to focus on: high-risk regulated communities alleged offences which involve providing false or misleading information to the department and/or financially motivated non-compliant behaviour failure to submit of required documentation unauthorised and non-compliant behaviour in high-risk areas identifying and acting on non-compliance, in alignment with the regulatory strategy. Supported by focus area 1 activities

Regulatory tool

Objectives

Activities

Monitor

Ensure compliance across our regulatory activities by monitoring risk and impacts to water resources, the environment, and communities.

Use a variety of audit and detection methods for intelligence purposes i.e. remote sensing, data analytics and desktop tools.
Improve systems and data quality.
Develop and maintain strategic partnerships.
Monitor and communicate legislative reform.

Supported by focus area 1 activities

Respond and enforce

Address risks and issues to improve compliance and achieve water resource management outcomes.

Ensure our responses are targeted and proportionate by making fair, transparent and evidence-based decisions.

We will continue to focus on:

high-risk regulated communities
alleged offences which involve providing false or misleading information to the department and/or financially motivated non-compliant behaviour
failure to submit of required documentation
unauthorised and non-compliant behaviour in high-risk areas
identifying and acting on non-compliance, in alignment with the regulatory strategy.

Supported by focus area 1 activities

Last updated: 04 Dec 2025