Natural Resources Access Regulator

NRAR was established in 2017 under the Natural Resources Access Regulator Act 2017 (NRAR Act) to address the need for a dedicated body to oversee water compliance in NSW.{{cite news |title=Natural Resources Access Regulator Act 2017 No 64 |url=https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2017-064 |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=NSW Government |date=30 November 2017}}{{Cite web |title=NSW Govt launches its Natural Resource Access Regulator |url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/nsw-govt-launches-its-natural-resource-access-regulator |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=Australian Water Association |language=en-au}} The creation of NRAR was part of a broader effort to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of water regulation in the state.{{Cite journal |last=Carmody |first=Emma |date=2018 |title=Managing our scarce water resources: recent developments in the Murray-Darling Basin |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329972922 |journal=Law Society Journal |issue=51 |pages=75–77 |via=Research Gate}}

NRAR was established following Ken Matthews’ investigation into water management and compliance conducted in 2017.{{cite news |last1=Matthews |first1=Ken |title=Independent investigation into NSW water management and compliance |url=https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/131905/Matthews-final-report-NSW-water-management-and-compliance.pdf |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=NSW Government |date=24 November 2017}} The Matthews report was commissioned in response to the 2017 ABC Four Corners program Pumped, which contained allegations of water mismanagement in the Barwon-Darling region of NSW.{{cite news |title=VIDEO: Pumped |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-24/pumped/8727826?future=true |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=ABC News |date=24 July 2017 |language=en-AU}}

The Government accepted the Matthews Report recommendations in full. Following the report, it was decided that new policy should be implemented. This resulted in the Water Reform Action Plan (WRAP) being put into place.{{cite news |title=Securing our water: NSW Government water reform action plan |url=https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/312472/nsw-government-water-reform-action-plan.pdf |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=NSW Government |date=December 2017}} A key component of the WRAP was to establish an independent water compliance authority. NRAR was established to fulfil this action, and the organisation commenced operations on 30 April 2018.

From April 2018 onwards, NRAR was given sole responsibility for enforcement of water management legislation in NSW. Prior to NRAR, compliance functions were split between the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, formerly DPI Water, and WaterNSW.{{cite news |title=ICAC recommends changes to government water management in NSW after years of focus on irrigation industry interests - Independent Commission Against Corruption |url=https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2020-media-releases/icac-recommends-changes-to-government-water-management-in-nsw-after-years-of-focus-on-irrigation-industry-interests |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=www.icac.nsw.gov.au |date=27 November 2020}}

NRAR is a NSW Government law enforcement agency, which sits within the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).{{cite news |title=Water agencies |url=https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/licensing-and-trade/governance |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=NSW Government |date=22 June 2023 |language=en}}

NRAR’s independent board leads its strategic directions, compliance and enforcement functions. The board is appointed by and reports to the Minister for Water. Any directions by the minister must be made in accordance with the provisions of the NRAR Act. NRAR’s Board has been chaired by Craig Knowles since inception.{{cite news |title=Our Board and Executive |url=https://www.nrar.nsw.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/our-board |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=NSW Government |date=8 August 2023 |language=en}}

The regulator's day-to-day operations are led by its Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO) and executive. NRAR’s CRO position has been held by Grant Barnes since the agency was established.{{Cite web |title=Grant Barnes |url=https://anzsog.edu.au/about-us/contact-directory/grant-barnes/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=ANZSOG |language=en-US}}

The vision of NRAR is to ensure "sustainable and fair water regulation for NSW."{{cite news |title=Our strategy: NSW Dept of Natural Resources Access Regulator |url=https://www.nrar.nsw.gov.au/about-us/our-strategy |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=NSW Government |date=17 July 2024 |language=en}} The agency enforces New South Wales water laws to ensure that the environment, communities and industries all receive their fair share.{{cite news |title=Acts and regulations |url=https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/about-us/legislation-and-policies/acts-and-regulations |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=NSW Government |date=13 December 2024 |language=en}}

NRAR regulates the taking of water, the building and use of water management works, how water is used and activities that take place on waterfront land.{{cite news |title=What we do |url=https://www.nrar.nsw.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=NSW Government |date=1 October 2024 |language=en}} The operations of NRAR are supported by various teams specialising in compliance, investigations, education, and outreach.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-07-13 |title=How we ensure compliance |url=https://www.nrar.nsw.gov.au/about-us/compliance |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator |language=en}}

One of the key ways NRAR monitors NSW for potential breaches of the water laws is by using remote sensing technology.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9g2hgVjHb4 |title=Technology boosts ends 'wild west' of unlawful water use in NSW |date=2022-06-20 |last=ABC News |access-date=9 January 2025 |via=YouTube}}

When addressing non-compliance, the regulator makes use of a tiered framework referred to as the pyramid approach. In this model, the severity of responses escalates with the increasing impact of non-compliance as one progresses up the pyramid.{{Cite web |last1=Loch |first1=Adam James |last2=Adamson |first2=David |last3=Giancaspro |first3=Mark |last4=Croft |first4=Michael |date=16 April 2024 |title=Water theft laws and penalties in the Murray-Darling Basin are a dog's breakfast. Here's how we can fix them |url=https://theconversation.com/water-theft-laws-and-penalties-in-the-murray-darling-basin-are-a-dogs-breakfast-heres-how-we-can-fix-them-227862 |access-date=9 January 2025 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}

Since 2019, the agency has been notable for initiating numerous prosecutions and influencing behavioural changes in NSW.{{Cite web |date=8 June 2023 |title=Big Ideas - Are laws to prevent crimes against nature fit for purpose? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/bigideas/are-laws-to-prevent-crimes-against-nature-fit-for-purpose-/102385838 |access-date=9 January 2025 |website=ABC Listen |language=en-AU}}

NRAR’s current responsibilities are governed by legislation including the NRAR Act, the Water Management Act 2000, the Water Act 1912 and associated regulations.{{Cite web |title=Water Management Act 2000 No 92 |url=https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2000-092 |access-date=9 January 2025 |website=NSW Government}}{{Cite web |title=Water Act 1912 No 44 |url=https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1912-044 |access-date=9 January 2025 |website=NSW Government}}

• [https://www.nrar.nsw.gov.au/ Official website]

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Category:Water management in New South Wales

Category:Government departments of New South Wales

Category:Water law

Category:Environmental law

Category:Regulators