The NSW Government has removed some of the red tape surrounding water use during a fire emergency. Photo: Warwick Costin.
The Country Mayors Association of NSW has welcomed the NSW Government’s decision to slash some of the red tape that has hampered farmers’ ability to fight fires on their own property.
The amendments to the Water Management (General) Regulation 2018 mean that landholders facing a fire emergency can now access surface water and groundwater sources on their land without a water licence and water use approval, including streams, creeks and rivers on their boundary.
“Common sense has prevailed!” said CMA chairman and Temora Mayor Rick Firman.
“It is especially pleasing to see the minister ensuring the amendments have been made ready for the summer fire period. These amendments are overdue, however, credit when it is earned.”
Acting Minister for Water Jodie Harrison agreed that it was a much-needed update that acknowledged the realities of a fire emergency.
“Rules to protect the state’s water security are important – but the fact is, when there is a fire, no one should need to stop and think if they are allowed to access water to keep themselves and their property safe,” she said.
“When fire threatens life and property, landholders need fast and easy access to water to protect their properties and themselves.
“These changes make it easier and cheaper for farmers and property owners to access water to prepare for and respond to emergency fire situations.”
Landholders can access water without a permit and also store water for future firefighting purposes. Photo: Supplied.
Under the amendments, water can also be accessed for training, controlled burning and for testing equipment when it is carried out under the authority of a firefighting agency such as the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Landholders can also store up to 100,000 litres per annum in a tank or dam for future firefighting purposes.
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the NSW Government would conduct periodic surveys to understand how the exemption was being used and to identify the extent and scale of water use.
“When it comes to emergencies, landholders can play an important role in bushfire response, and this change further empowers them to act when their properties are under threat,” he said.
“The NSW Government has been proactive in finding common sense ways to make it easier for landholders to fight fires on their properties, which also includes a trial to make it easier for farmers to keep firefighting vehicles on their properties.”
Landholders will not be required to submit reports, however they are encouraged to log the volume of water they take under the exemption, for their own records.
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