Exemptions for areas with no telemetry coverage
The NSW Government has developed a telemetry coverage tool to identify your telemetry coverage in NSW. This tool can assist DQPs and water users identify telemetry network coverage. If the metering site is in a blackspot area, an exemption may apply.
Are you in a telemetry blackspot area?
The Minister has granted an exemption for floodplain harvesting works that cannot connect to telemetry due to lack of network coverage.
To qualify, the owner must notify the department using the approved form, confirming the site is in a telemetry blackspot.
This exemption applies only to works that are physically unable to meet telemetry requirements and will be reviewed as technology and coverage improve.
The exemption:
- automatically applies when a water used notifies the Minister, using the Floodplain harvesting telemetry exemption notification form (PDF, 133.06 KB),, and confirms that the site is a telemetry blackspot area
- exempts the work from the data logging and telemetry requirements for floodplain harvesting
- requires the water user to:
- install, use and maintain a secondary metering device, or
- comply with all requirements of point-of-intake metering equipment except telemetry requirements
- requires a water user to record and report their water take, based on reporting requirements that apply to secondary metering devices or point-of-intake metering equipment
- applies to only one work approval per form. Additional exemptions require separate forms.
Obtaining a floodplain harvesting telemetry exemption
To generate the report you will need:
- work approval owner’s name
- work approval number
- meter location coordinates - latitude/longitude of the meter location – to at least 6 decimal places (you can obtain these coordinates from Google maps and most smart mobile phones if you are onsite)
- Registration of Interest (ROI) number and Infrastructure Item Number found on your Water Infrastructure Plan (WIP) (e.g. BR001-1).
If you need a copy of your WIP, please email water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au.
Generate a telemetry coverage report
The report will download automatically – be sure to save it for your records.
Note: The information is only used to generate the report and is not stored by the department.
How to interpret the report
Blue squares on the report show network coverage areas, while white squares indicate no coverage.
To qualify for an automatic exemption, there must be at least one white square between the work site and the nearest blue square.
Automatically exempt | Not automatically |
|---|---|
 |  |
The telemetry coverage report is based on the 3 nearest Telstra towers with 4G NB-IoT or LTE Cat M1 networks. It includes:
- Property Details - based on the information you entered
- General View - shows telemetry coverage within 30 km from 3 nearby Telstra towers.
- Detailed View - a zoomed in look at the meter site for better coverage assessment.
- Elevation Profile -displays the ‘line-of-site’ between the meter site and the 3 towers, highlighting any obstacles. In some cases, a raised antenna may improve coverage (check with your DQP).
Note:
- The telemetry coverage report does not show mobile phone coverage, which may be different on the same site.
- The report is not compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). For assistance, call 1300 081 047 or email water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au
If your telemetry coverage report confirms automatic exemption, download and complete the floodplain harvesting telemetry exemption notification form. (PDF, 133.06 KB)
Email the completed form together with your telemetry coverage report and Water Infrastructure Plan to metering.reform@dpie.nsw.gov.au
Subject line: FPH telemetry exemption notification
No coverage, but report shows you are in a telemetry area?
If you are not automatically exempt but you believe you are in a blackspot, ask your DQP to conduct an onsite telemetry connectivity test.
If the test confirms no coverage, submit:
- the floodplain telemetry exemption notification form
- proof of connectivity issues,
- your Water Infrastructure Plan
- any additional supporting documents to metering.reform@dpie.nsw.gov.au with the subject line: FPH telemetry exemption request – online telemetry coverage but no on-site connectivity.