Brendon Warnock said that means operating within the current water management framework and making the most of the water that is available. 

Namoi Water executive officer Jon-Maree Baker said, despite public perceptions, water licensing was similar to having a driver’s licence.

“You have a licence to drive – a farmer has a water licence,” she said. “You need to register your car –  farmers register their bore  bore and other work approvals.”

The analogy continues, likening obeying the road rules to farmers sticking to the licence conditions.

Ms Baker said irrigators were subject to regular meter readings as well as random compliance visits.

“Fundamentally there are very few people doing the wrong thing,” she said. “There is a robust regulatory framework in place and there are checks and balances to make sure that we all follow the rules be it on the road or on the farm.”