The Water Management (General) Regulation 2025 (NSW) establishes a comprehensive framework for water governance in New South Wales. The regulation consolidates provisions across water planning, licensing, approvals, metering, exemptions, enforcement, and transitional arrangements. It defines key terms such as “minor stream,” “river,” and “floodplain,” and outlines the structure for water management plans, including rules for water allocation, carryovers, and environmental releases. Access licences are categorised and prioritised, with detailed provisions for application, dealings, and cancellation. Special rules govern replacement floodplain harvesting licences, including eligibility criteria and share component determination using modelling scenarios. The regulation sets mandatory metering standards for water take and floodplain harvesting, including equipment specifications, telemetry, validation, and fault protocols. It also defines exemptions for certain works and activities, including those by public authorities, landholders, and under emergency conditions. Duly qualified persons are identified for technical roles, with certification and reporting obligations. A negotiation scheme is introduced for landholders affected by environmental water releases, supported by guidelines and review mechanisms. The regulation also includes economic valuation methods for water taken illegally, penalty notice offences, and savings provisions to ensure continuity from previous regulations.