WA releases new metering policy: measuring the taking of water

摘要

The Policy is not reliant on the successful passage of water law reform in WA. Instead, it will be introduced through amendments to licence conditions and the eventual enactment of regulations. In this author's opinion, this is a positive step forward, because it is not clear when or whether any further water law reform will progress. For this reason, and to combat past procrastination in this area, it is also beneficial that the Policy articulates a clear timetable for the implementation of new metering thresholds for specified types of licences. However, in light of declining water availability as evident from recent data, the Department should arguably reconsider its stance on unlicensed garden bore users - a stance that currently sees this critical group exempted from metering requirements.