Connecting the drops
The Queensland Murray-Darling Basin (QMDB) Telemetry Uplift Program is subsidising the installation of telemetry on non-urban surface water meters for eligible water entitlement holders in the QMDB. This supports sustainable water management, better information for water markets, and stronger compliance and monitoring across the Basin.
Goanna Ag has been engaged under the program to install compliant telemetry devices, using our purpose-built telemetry device GoMeter, across all 16 nominated Water Management Areas. Around 600 sites are covered by the program, with installation offered on a first-come, first-served basis while the subsidy is available.
Wherever your property sits within the nominated Water Management Areas, the subsidy covers the same thing: your GoMeter device, installation, and your first 12 months of data services and maintenance - meaning there is no upfront cost to you
Advantages of telemetry devices
Real-time insights
Water meter data updates every 15 minutes, giving you current information to guide day-to-day decisions.
Streamlined operations
Cut down on manual site visits to check readings, and free up time for the rest of your operation.
Data reliability and transparency
Auditable, tamper-evident data builds trust with regulators and the wider community around your compliance.
Eligibility
Two priority groups, one subsidy
Your Water Management Area determines which priority group you're in and your telemetry compliance date, but the subsidy on offer is the same either way. Check the lists below or get in touch and we'll confirm it for you.
PRIORITY 1 Water Management Areas
Telemetry required by 1 December 2026
- Condamine and Balonne
- Condamine and Balonne Tributaries
- Lower Balonne
- Moonie
- Upper Condamine
- Stanthorpe
PRIORITY 2 Water Management Areas
Telemetry required by 1 December 2027
- Border Rivers
- Callandoon Creek
- Gowrie and Oakey Creek
- Macintyre Brook
- Upper/Northern/Lower Weir River
- Warrego, Paroo, Nebine catchments
Eligibility requirements (all applicants)
Water licence - must hold a river or creek water licence in an eligible Water Management Area
Compatible meter - must have a telemetry-enabled surface water meter on site
Current meter certification - must provide a current water meter inspection form completed by a Certified Meter Installer. A copy of the approved form must be provided to Goanna Ag before telemetry can be installed.
Our compliant telemetry device
GoMeter
Our GoMeter telemetry device provides continuous, near real-time monitoring, giving you accurate, auditable records of your water use. It also gives the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers (DLGWV) the timely data it needs to support sustainable water management across the Basin.
Real-time monitoring
GoMeter reports your water pumping data every 15 minutes, so you can track, manage and report with confidence.
Data-based decisions
See exactly how water moves across your property, spot patterns, and make sharper calls on where to focus.
User-friendly app
Current and historical data, in your pocket, whether you're in the paddock or states away.
Why Goanna Ag
Quality products
GoMeter is built to handle harsh on-farm conditions, designed to keep performing season after season.
Industry expertise
We've spent over 20 years solving on-farm water and data challenges alongside growers.
After sales support
Our team is on hand for questions and technical support long after your device is installed.
Register today
Register today and our team will confirm your eligibility, guide you through meter certification, and schedule your installation, whether your Water Management Area falls in Priority 1 or Priority 2.
Why take part in the subsidy?
Telemetry is a requirement for surface water entitlement holders in the QMDB. The subsidy is available for a limited time to help you get telemetry installed at no cost.
If you don't take up the subsidy now, you'll be responsible for the full cost of purchasing, installing and setting up a device yourself. Telemetry services that meet regulatory requirements can only be provided by approved suppliers authorised to securely transmit data to the DLGWV.
Frequently asked questions
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Both priority groups get the same subsidy, a fully subsidised GoMeter, installation, and 12 months of data services and maintenance. The difference is your regulatory compliance date: Priority 1 Water Management Areas must have telemetry installed by 1 December 2026, and Priority 2 areas by 1 December 2027. Installing sooner rather than later gives you more flexibility over scheduling either way, since installs are first-come, first-served.
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Step 1: Register your interest and submit your meter details via the Goanna Ag website
Step 2: Goanna Ag will send you the installation form to complete
Step 3: Goanna Ag reviews and confirms your eligibility and schedules your installation
Step 4: Goanna Ag's Certified Meter Installer installs your GoMeter
Step 5: Goanna Ag will set you up with the GoApp, for real time data reporting. Your daily water-take data will then automatically transmit to the Department.
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Currently, only QMDB surface water users in the stated water management areas are required under the Water Regulation 2016 to install telemetry on certified water meters to improve water management and support sustainable water use.
Outside these areas, the installation of telemetry devices on water meters is not required.
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The first 12 months of data services and maintenance for your telemetry device are fully subsidised. After that, ongoing data services and maintenance costs become your responsibility, and will be billed directly by Goanna Ag (currently around $240 per year, covering telecommunications and GoApp access, subject to standard Goanna Ag pricing changes, with notice given in advance).
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Yes. We don't collect personal information like date of birth or financial details, your data is encrypted in transit, access is restricted to approved personnel, and you retain ownership of your data. Data used for research or analytics is de-identified first.
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DLGWV receives your water-take data to support water management and regulatory functions, in the same way it currently works with manual reads.
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Yes, for now. Manual reads are still required to meet statutory reporting obligations during the Department’s transition to telemetry.
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Yes, the program runs first-come, first-served, so if you have multiple eligible meters, register your interest for each meter as soon as you can.
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Complete the form above or email us directly at qldmeter@goannaag.com.au.
Please note: Goanna Ag only manufacture, install and service Goanna Ag telemetry we do not service or install surface water meters.
Goanna Ag has been engaged under the QMDB Telemetry Uplift Program to provide subsidised telemetry devices across 16 Water Management Areas in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin on behalf of the Queensland Government (Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers). This program builds on the completed Increase Telemetry Capability project.