FAQs - Water access licence or dealing

You can apply and pay online using our Water Applications Online service.

If you're not able to complete an online application in one sitting, it's easy to save and resume the application at a later date.

To save your application as a draft, press the 'Save Draft' button at the bottom of the online application form page and make a note of the unique reference number subsequently provided to you on screen. It is made up of 8 characters (using both letters and numbers, for example: 10s4dq67).

If you would like a copy of the reference number to be emailed to you, enter your email address in the field provided on the screen after you saved the draft and a copy of the reference number will be emailed to this email address.

To resume your draft application, go to Water Applications Online, select 'Continue application' and enter the reference number you received by email and/or on screen when you first saved your draft application.

If you forget or have lost the reference number for a draft online application please contact our Customer Service Centre.

Online applications for water access licences and dealings currently require a printed copy to allow all holders to physically sign the application form before the assessment process can begin.

Once you complete the online application, please print and sign the form.

Submit the signed application form by posting it to PO Box 398 Parramatta NSW 2124 or email a scanned copy to customer.helpdesk@waternsw.com.au

If the application form is not signed by all the holders, it will be marked as invalid.

Yes. Once WaterNSW receives your online payment, you will be notified on screen that your completed application has been submitted.

Additionally, if you have provided a valid email address in your application, we will notify you by email to confirm we have received your application.

You will be provided with a unique application number both on screen and in the email that identifies your submitted application (note: this application number is different to the reference number you may have received if you saved an application as a draft – see Question 2).

You can use this application number to view your application and also track the progress of your application (see Questions 5 & 8).

Yes. To view your completed application, go to Water Applications Online and select 'View completed application'.

Enter the application number you received by email and/or on screen when you submitted your application.

You can only make edits to online applications that have been saved as a draft. You cannot make edits to your online application once it has been completed and submitted for processing. If you've already submitted your application and need to change it, please contact our Customer Service Centre.

Applications will be assessed according to WaterNSW's assessment procedures. A Water Regulation Officer will contact you if more information is required.

If you applied for a water access licence, WaterNSW will determine to either grant a water access licence with appropriate conditions or refuse to grant the licence. WaterNSW will advise you by letter of the result of your application, known as the notice of determination.

If you applied to undertake a dealing, WaterNSW will determine to either grant or refuse the dealing. You will receive a notice of determination and if granted, a statement of conditions and a notification form for registering the dealing with NSW Land Registry Services. For further information, see Dealings process.

To track your submitted application, go to Water Applications Online and select 'Track completed application'.

Enter the application number you received by email or on screen when you submitted your application.

You can also track your submitted application using our trackNOW iPhone app (see Question 9 below).

To track your submitted application using the trackNOW iPhone app, download the free app from the Apple store.

Enter the unique application number you received by email or on screen when you submitted your application.

There are six stages in the assessment of your application. You will be able to see the stage of your application in the table shown on screen.

You will also be automatically notified of the progress of your application during the assessment process.

If you are applying online, the relevant fees will be automatically listed in your application.

Go to Applications and fees for more information.

We only accept MasterCard and Visa credit cards.

A receipt/tax invoice will appear on screen when you complete the application online. You should print a copy of this for your records. If the receipt page does not appear please contact our Customer Service Centre.

If you experience computer problems during a transaction, you must restart the transaction process. If you have saved a draft you can use your unique draft application number to continue your application (see Question 2). If you have already progressed to the 'confirmation of payment' screen, you should contact our Customer Service Centre as your payment may have been processed.

You will receive an error message if any of the information you have provided in your online application is incomplete or does not match WaterNSW records. Your transaction will not be processed.

If you experience any difficulties during the online application process, you can contact our Customer Service Centre.

Water Applications Online uses the most up-to-date Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption.