Applications and fees
Find applications, fee information and how to pay online.
Apply and pay online
Please be advised that between 5pm Friday 15 November and 5pm Sunday 17 November, followed by 9am Friday 22 November and 5pm Tuesday 26 November the Customer Portal will be unavailable due to a system upgrade. If you have an application in progress during this time and require immediate assistance, please contact our Customer Service Centre. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
We are making changes to the way you submit applications online. Customers can now apply for a basic landholder rights (BLR) bore through our new Customer Portal.
Over the coming months, you will start to see our existing Water Applications Online (WAO) service replaced by our new Customer Portal. During this transition, you can still use WAO to apply, pay and track the status of some other applications below.
Please be advised that between 8pm Friday 22 November and 5pm Tuesday 26 November the Water Applications Online (WAO) will be unavailable due to a system upgrade. If you have an application in progress during this time and require immediate assistance, please contact our Customer Service Centre. If required, you can submit a paper-based form (found below). We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Use our Water Applications Online service to apply and pay online:
- for a new water access licence or water dealing
- for a new approval for a water supply work to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right
- to extend a water supply work and/or water use approval.
The benefits of applying and paying online include:
- it is quicker and easier as your online form will automatically include relevant information (such as fees)
- online applications can be processed faster than hard copy applications
- you can track the progress of your submitted online application using a unique application number
- a free iPhone app, trackNOW, is available to track applications
- you will be emailed a receipt after submitting your application
- there is support available through online 'help' and links to relevant information.
Applications
Approvals
Basic landholder rights
- BLR - Apply and pay online for a new approval for a water supply work
- BLR - Apply to amend an existing BLR approval for a water supply work
Water supply work and water use approvals
Please be advised that between 8pm Friday 22 November and 5pm Tuesday 26 November the Water Applications Online (WAO) will be unavailable due to a system upgrade. If you have an application in progress during this time and require immediate assistance, please contact our Customer Service Centre. If required, you can submit a paper-based form (found below). We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
- Apply and pay online to extend a water supply work and/or water use approval
- Application for a new or amended water supply work and/or water use approval
- Application to surrender your water supply work approval (PDF, 262.07 KB)
Flood work
- Application for a new approval for a flood work
- Application to amend an approval for a flood work
- Notify WaterNSW of completion of flood work form (PDF, 649.48 KB)
- Request for a flood work pre-application meeting form (PDF, 296.62 KB)
Other
- Amend approval to reduce pump size (PDF, 261.95 KB)
- Application for a test bore or monitoring bore (PDF, 573.15 KB)
- Application for interstate tagging a NSW approval to an interstate entitlement (PDF, 190.52 KB)
- Application to amend an approval for inactive and active works
- Application to amend an approval for inactive and active works - Floodplain harvesting
- Amend bore extraction limit (BEL) conditions on a water supply works and/or water use approval (PDF, 310.08 KB)
- Application to amend approval to remove a work or land from a water supply works and/or water use approval (PDF, 338.6 KB)
- Application to amend approval to subdivide water supply works and/or water use approval (PDF, 331.78 KB)
- Application to amend approval to consolidate water supply works and/or water use approval (PDF, 320.6 KB)
Licences and dealings
Licensing and dealings under the Water Management Act 2000
Please be advised that between 8pm Friday 22 November and 5pm Tuesday 26 November the Water Applications Online (WAO) will be unavailable due to a system upgrade. If you have an application in progress during this time and require immediate assistance, please contact our Customer Service Centre. If required, you can submit a paper-based form (found below). We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
- Apply and pay online for a new specific purpose water access licence
- Apply and pay online for a new water access licence with a zero share component
- Application for water access licence Title/Certificate release (PDF, 201.76 KB)
- Notice to surrender a water access licence form (PDF, 208.99 KB)
- Application for a search for water-related interests form (PDF, 158.77 KB)
Water access licence changes made through WaterNSW are linked below
- Sub-divide (PDF, 120.63 KB) or consolidate ( PDF, 100.54 KB) access licences (71P) – Cancel original licence/s and sub-divide or consolidate in the same water management area or source.
- Convert an access licence to a new category (71O) (PDF, 109.86 KB) – Convert to a different category or sub- category in the same water management area or source.
- Assign rights in an access licence to another licence/s (71Q) (PDF, 116.17 KB) – Permanently assign rights in the same water management area or source to an access licence/s of the same category.
- Assignment of individual daily extraction component (IDEC) to another licence (71QA) (PDF, 89.43 KB) – Permanently assign to another access licence.
- Change a water source (71R) (PDF, 88.24 KB) – Change a share component in a different water management area or source.
- Amend an extraction component (71S) (PDF, 86.78 KB) – Amend access licence extraction component for taking water – times, rates, areas, or locations.
- Application to change a water access licence (71W) (PDF, 489.03 KB) – To nominate or withdraw a nomination for a water supply work.
- Assign water allocations between access licences (71T, 71V) (PDF, 480.56 KB) – Temporarily assign water allocated to a water allocation account to another access licence in NSW (71T) or interstate (71V).
- Propose or withdraw nomination for an interstate water supply work (71W) – Nominate (or change) a water supply work or extraction point against an access licence, for those in a NSW or interstate water tagging zone.
- Exit a Co-held access licence (S74) (PDF, 193.09 KB) – One or more co-holders of an access licence extinguish their holding and a new access licence is granted.
Security interests
- Request to register a security interest in a replacement water access licence or notification that no security interest exists (initiated by interest holder) (PDF, 172.44 KB)
- Mortgagee notice of registration of security interest issue to water access licence holders (Template letter) (DOCX, 19.9 KB)
- Secured interest registration by holders of replacement water access licences
Driller's licensing and Automatic Mutual Recognition
Please be advised that between 8pm Friday 22 November and 1pm Sunday 24 November the Drillers Portal will be unavailable due to a system upgrade. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Please use the Drillers Portal to submit a Bore construction report (BCR) directly online.
- Bore construction report - Form A ( PDF, 267.56 KB) (hard copy)
- Guide - Bore construction report - Form A () PDF, 148.1 KB
To register for Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) in NSW, please visit the AMR website.
Dewatering
- Application for a water supply works approval for construction dewatering
- Application for a water use approval for construction dewatering
- Application for a water access licence with zero share component (PDF, 766.86 KB)
- Apply and pay online to assign share components between water access licences
- Record of groundwater take form (PDF, 813.18 KB)
- Emergency works exemptions form
- Completion Report for Dewatering work (PDF, 403.7 KB)
Application processing times
WaterNSW aims to process all applications in a timely manner. Please see the table below for our target standard processing times for approvals and assessments.
| APPLICATION TYPE | TARGET PROCESSING TIME | CURRENT PERFORMANCE |
|---|---|---|
| Licence dealings assignment of shares (7IQ) | 90% within 20 days | 92% |
| New access licences | 80% within 40 days | 86% |
| Water supply work and use approval | 80% within 60 days | 83% |
| Extend an approval | 90% within 20 days | 91% |
| Approval for a bore for domestic and stock rights | 90% within 10 days | 97% |
Figures are for the time period of 1 July 2024 – 30 September 2024.
Depending on the application type and complexity, with other agencies involved in the approval, it may take up to 6 months for your application to be determined. You can track the progress of your application and we thank you for your patience and understanding. View our Customer Service Charter.
FAQS
Approval for a water supply work to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right
Note: If you want to amend an existing approval for a water supply work to take groundwater under a domestic and stock right you need to complete a hard copy application form (PDF, 900.69 KB)
More information:
Extend a water supply work and/or water use approval
Letters to approval holders notifying them about applying to extend an approval are posted by WaterNSW before the expiry date of the approval.
The letter notifying you to apply to extend a water supply work and/or water use approval includes a personal application number for you to use our Water Applications Online service to apply and pay online.
If your notification letter does not include this number you will need to fill in the hard copy application form posted to you with your notification letter
For more information, go to:
Application fees
Application fees for water access licences, dealings and approvals
WaterNSW charges fees to cover the assessment and processing costs of applications for access licences, water supply work approvals, water use approvals and access licence dealings lodged under the Water Management Act 2000.
These fees are determined by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). The fees applying from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 are listed in the following tables. These fees will increase annually on 1 July, and until 30 June 2025 those increases will be based on changes in the consumer price index (CPI). Fees are exempt from GST.
Please note: If an application has been accepted by WaterNSW, payment has been processed and a receipt has been issued, application fees will not be refunded.
2024-25 Application fees
Fees
New water access licences
| APPLICATION TYPE | FEE |
|---|---|
| Zero share | $834.57 |
| Controlled allocation | $811.95 |
| Specific purpose – NO groundwater assessment required | $846.83 |
| Specific purpose – groundwater assessment required | $3,812.67 |
Water access licence dealings
| APPLICATION TYPE | FEE |
|---|---|
| Regulated rivers | $883.28 |
| Dealings - unregulated rivers and groundwater (All applications except those considered by the processing agency to be low risk or administrative) - Groundwater assessment required | $5,788.00 |
| Dealings - unregulated rivers and groundwater (All applications except those considered by the processing agency to be low risk or administrative) - Groundwater assessment not required | $2,822.15 |
Low risk, unregulated rivers and groundwater - groundwater assessment NOT required This applies to:
| $1,278.83 |
Dealings - administrative This applies to:
| $564.89 |
Water allocation assignments (temporary trade)
| APPLICATION TYPE | FEE |
|---|---|
| Regulated rivers | $58.16 |
| Unregulated rivers and groundwater | $58.16 |
Please note: application fee(s) for water trade will NOT be refunded if an allocation assignment application is unsuccessful, withdrawn or incomplete.
Basic landholder right bore applications
| APPLICATION TYPE | FEE |
|---|---|
| New basic landholder right bore - groundwater assessment NOT required | $1,040.66 |
| New basic landholder right bore - groundwater assessment required | $1,208.38 |
Groundwater applications
| APPLICATION TYPE | FEE |
|---|---|
| New or amended works and/or use approvals - groundwater assessment required (Except those considered by the processing agency to be low risk or administrative) | $8,206.82 |
| New or amended works and/or use approvals - groundwater assessment not required (Expect those considered by the processing agency to be low risk or administrative) | $5,240.96 |
| New or amended works and/or use approval - low risk - groundwater assessment required | $5,805.56 |
| New or amended works and/or use approval - low risk - groundwater assessment not required | $2,839.71 |
| Amended approval - administrative - groundwater assessment required | $3,590.81 |
Amended approval, administrative - groundwater assessment NOT required This applies to:
| $624.95 |
Surface water applications
| APPLICATION TYPE | FEE |
|---|---|
| New or amended works and/or use approvals | $5,240.96 |
| New or amended works and/or use approvals - low risk | $2,839.71 |
Amended approval - administrative This applies to:
| $624.95 |
Inactive/active works
| APPLICATION TO AMEND AN APPROVAL FOR INACTIVE AND ACTIVE WORKS | FEE |
|---|---|
| Amended approval - administrative | $624.95 |
Construction dewatering applications
| APPLICATION TYPE | FEE |
|---|---|
| New or amended works approvals - groundwater assessment required | $8,206.82 |
| New or amended works and/or use approvals, low risk - groundwater assessment NOT required | $2,839.71 |
| Amended approval, administrative - groundwater assessment required | $3,590.81 |
Approval extension applications
| APPLICATION TYPE | FEE |
|---|---|
| Extension lodged on or before expiry date | $601.11 |
| Extension lodged after expiry date | $1,110.97 |
Applications not set by IPART
| APPLICATION TYPE | FEE |
|---|---|
| FLOOD WORK | |
| Flood work - this fee is inclusive of advertising, if required. | $3,350.00 |
Flood work amend approval – administrative (Flood Engineer review NOT required) | $624.95 |
| DRILLERS LICENCE | |
| Driller's licence | $437.00 |
| Amend a driller's licence – change a licence class | $177.00 |
| SOLICITOR'S ENQUIRIES | |
| Normal pricing per 20 Lot/DP (up to 10 days) | $187.00 |
| Urgent per 20 Lot/DP (within 48 hrs) | $375.00 |
| WATER ACT | |
| Application for a test bore | $151.00 |
| Application for a groundwater licence | $151.00 |
| Application to renew a groundwater licence | $151.00 |
Notes on fees
Notes for application fees
'New' work approval means any work proposed which is not currently listed on a water approval or is replacing an existing work which is listed on a water approval. *Note that forms are sent directly to these holders.
These fees are determined by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
WaterNSW collects the groundwater assessment fee on behalf of the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW). NSW DCCEEW hydrogeologists are responsible for undertaking the groundwater assessment, when required.
Consent Transactions in relation to Monopoly Services provided by Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (WAMC).
Consent transaction in relation to drillers licences, solicitor enquiries and special meter reads are not stated, as they have not been regulated by IPART and are deemed to be unregulated services.
Impact and rules-based assessments:
Applications generally require a detailed impact assessment. This includes case by case investigation to consider potential local impacts and determine whether those impacts require refusal or consent, or consent subject to conditions.
Depending on the type of transaction, impact assessment can include identifying and addressing impacts on adjoining pumps or bores, Aboriginal heritage sites, native vegetation, threatened species, wetlands, land degradation, salinity, soil compaction, geomorphic instability, hydrology, water logging, acidity, contamination and water quality, in addition to consideration and resolution of any lodged objections. In some cases where significant risks are identified, WaterNSW may require the applicant to commission third-party experts to determine the extent of those risks and how they might be mitigated.
Applications determined by IPART which are identified as ‘low risk’ are processed with a rules-based assessment which does not require the above detailed impact assessment.
Lower fees are charged for transactions which are identified as ‘low risk’.
WAMC charges are determined by IPART under the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal Act 1992 (IPART Act) and the WAMC determination. The reasons are:
- Section 11 of the IPART Act gives IPART a standing reference to conduct investigations and make reports to the Minister administering the IPART Act on the determination of the pricing for a government monopoly service supplied by a government agency specified in Schedule 1 of the IPART Act.
- The Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (Corporation) is listed in Schedule 1 of the IPART Act.
- The services which are declared as government monopoly services under clause 3 of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (Water Services) Order 2004 are services supplied by the Corporation which involve:
(1) the making available of water;
(2) the making available of the Corporation’s water supply facilities; or
(3) the supplying of water, whether by means of the Corporation’s water supply facilities or otherwise, (together, the Monopoly Services). - Under section 4(6) of the IPART Act, the Corporation is taken to be the supplier of the services for which fees and charges are payable under Chapter 3 of the Water Management Act.
- In practice, charges for such water resource management activities are made as charges under licences, permits, approvals or authorities granted by:
(1) the Minister under Chapter 3 of the Water Management Act (in areas of NSW in which proclamations under sections 55A and 88A of the Water Management Act are in force); and
(2) the Corporation under the Water Act (in other areas of NSW). - Accordingly, in determining maximum prices for the Monopoly Services, IPART has determined maximum prices payable for these services under various licences, permits, approvals or authorities granted under the Water Management Act and the Water Act.
Other fees or charges
Other fees or charges
Include:
- Charges applied by WaterNSW to all water licences and approvals for water management services, such as water resource management and metering. These charges are set by IPART.
- Fees applied by NSW Land Registry Services to cover the cost of Water Access Licence Register transactions and for issuing new water access licence certificates.
- Charges applied by WaterNSW for water delivery services for water taken from regulated rivers.
WaterNSW acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and pay our respects to all elders past, present and emerging. Learn more