The rollout of free state-of-the-art smart water monitoring devices for up to 2,500 inland water users is now in full swing, targeting some of the region’s highest water-using farms and agribusinesses, including several across the Western Plains.

The NSW Government has awarded Goanna Ag and Kallipr the tender to supply and install the equipment, delivering new digital telemetry systems to farms drawing licensed water from the Murray–Darling Basin and surrounding inland regions.

It’s the latest phase of the Australian Government’s $10.5 million Telemetry Uplift Program, designed to help eligible water users meet metering requirements while saving significant out-of-pocket costs.

The devices automatically track and transmit water-use data, giving farmers and landholders real-time insights and removing the need for manual reporting.

Goanna Ag’s Chief Development Officer, John Pattinson said the project builds on earlier Queensland work and is focused on improving transparency and accountability across the Basin.

“The project has been enabled by central government funding for better water management across the Murray–Darling Basin, run by the state,” he said.

“Floodplain harvesting has been a hot topic in northern NSW, and this is all about transparency and accountability, making sure water is being accounted for.”

Mr Pattinson said Goanna Ag’s role is to supply and fit the telemetry systems and ensure they meet strict compliance requirements.

“Think of it like there’s a mobile phone attached to your meter,” he said.

“When that meter does something interesting – as in water goes through – the phone just rings up the cloud and says, ‘Yep, there’s water moved through that meter today.’

"That’s a real-time automated process.”

The Darling (Baaka) is the last river to enter the Murray before the Murray reaches the sea in South Australia, about 825 kilometres downstream of the junction, giving it a special significance in the management of the Murray system.

He said each device must be installed by a duly qualified person, with tamper-evident seals to guarantee the authenticity of the data.

More than 400 water users have already opted into the program, with companies contacting successful applicants directly to arrange installation over the coming months.

The offer includes a defects warranty period, and program places remain open for larger users extracting from groundwater, regulated or unregulated river sources in the Murray–Darling Basin with annual entitlements of 100 megalitres or greater.

Mr Pattinson said the scheme would make a significant difference for irrigators and licence holders who currently rely on manual data submission.

“Rather than having to go and see and manually report on a monthly basis, data gets uploaded automatically every day,” he said.

While participation is voluntary for now, Mr Pattinson said it would likely become a requirement under metering rules.

“It is free and it is voluntary, but at some point they will all have to do it,” he said.

“The regulations don’t allow for data to be withheld.”

Telemetry sends near real-time data to water-management agencies, ensuring licensed water from inland sources is extracted fairly, equitably and in line with the rules.

By simplifying compliance and removing the need for manual reporting, accurate monitoring saves licence holders time and money while supporting sustainable water use and improved planning.

NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Executive Director of Operations Resilience Ashraf El-Sherbini said the rollout represented a major step forward.

“It’s fantastic to see this program roll out as we gear up to deliver cutting-edge telemetry across the NSW Murray–Darling Basin over the next two years,” he said.

“These companies bring strong industry experience and operational expertise and will be critical in getting these devices installed and up and running on-farm, accurately measuring extraction and

assisting water users to comply with their obligations.”

“Free telemetry means significant time and cost-savings, while strengthening our ability to accurately measure water taken from the Basin, which benefits everyone."

"The process is simple, quick and easy and can be done in under five minutes online.

"We invite all larger regulated, unregulated and groundwater users within inland NSW to learn more and act now.”

For details or to apply for the Telemetry Uplift Program, visit the NSW DCCEEW website.