Nathan Rees, Water Minister, NSW

Sydney, Australia --- (METERING.COM) --- July 25, 2008 - The New South Wales government is to spend $131 million (US$125 million) installing and replacing 9,500 water meters for groundwater sources, unregulated rivers and streams in the Murray-Darling Basin.

According to state water minister Nathan Rees the government will pay to replace 6,000 meters on regulated rivers, but there is some discussions around contributions towards the others by those who extract groundwater.

"They may be required to make some contribution as indeed any business would in any other area of activity where the Government was making a contribution to an efficiency measure."

Priorities for metering are the Tarcutta and Adelong creeks.