Managing your water access licence
What you need to know in order to manage your water access licence (undertake a dealing).
Managing your licence (undertake a dealing)
Dealings can be complicated and WaterNSW advises consulting with a third-party knowledgeable with the Water Management Act and your individual specific circumstances.
There are various change dealing types and individual circumstances, including whether an existing water access licence is held or not, may affect which dealing type best suits the respective circumstance. WaterNSW suggests making a pre-application appointment to discuss dealing options.
Please note, any change to an existing water access licence must be registered with NSW Land Registry Services (LRS) within six months of the dealing being granted. The water access licence certificate of title must be provided to LRS with any dealing for registration. Failing to do so could lead to a breach of the Water Management Act 2000 and the expiry of the dealing approval.
Customers are encouraged to book a pre-application appointment to discuss dealing options.
Book a phone appointment
Select your enquiry category below and use our online facility to book a phone appointment. Phone appointments are available Monday to Thursday.
- Basic landholder rights (BLR) bore enquiries
- Approval extensions
- Dewatering
- Flood work approval
- Approvals & licences for Southern NSW – includes the Murray, Murrumbidgee, Hunter, Lower Murray-Darling and Sydney South Coast River valleys
- Approvals & licences for Northern NSW – includes the Macquarie, Far West, Barwon and North Coast River valleys
Please note that this service is in relation to approval and licensing enquiries and does not include questions regarding water allocation assignments / temporary trade - 71T/71V applications. If you have any questions regarding trade, please contact our Customer Service Centre
Book a face-to-face appointment
The following offices are open for face-to-face meetings every Tuesday to discuss your water licensing enquiries. Select your local office to use our online facility to book a face-to-face meeting with one of our water licensing experts.
- Albury
- Deniliquin
- Dubbo
- Forbes
- Grafton
- Hunter
- Leeton
- Moree
- Murwillumbah
- Narrabri
- Nowra
- Parramatta
- Wagga Wagga
- Tamworth - to book a meeting to discuss:
- A laptop and scanner will be available in the office for use if required.
- Prior to attending your in-person meeting, please review:
| Water regulation enquiries please use this link. |
Lodgement of an application for a basic landholder right (BLR) bore, please use this link. |
New customer trade and transfer application obligations
From 1 July 2024, there will be new customer obligations when providing information to WaterNSW for trade transactions. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), through its Murray-Darling Basin water markets inquiry 2019-21 recommended mandatory reporting of prices for all tradeable water rights transactions, including irrigation rights and water delivery rights. The Federal Government accepted their recommendation and has made it a legal requirement under the Restoring our Rivers Bill 2023.
What does this change mean for me?
- Trade and transfer application forms must be completed comprehensively and accurately, even if it is commercially sensitive, commercial in confidence, or personal information. This means you are required to state the correct reason for the trade and the accurate price paid.
- Records that relate to reason for trade and price information that are provided to water market authorities will need to be kept by the person for a minimum of 5 years.
- Failure to comply can result in serious civil penalties.
To ensure you remain compliant or for more information, view the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water fact sheet here.
Other agencies
Find out more about the role of other agencies involved in managing your licence.
Land Registry Services (LRS) – Contact for Transfer of water access licence (S71M) and Term Transfer of entitlements under an access licence (S71N).
The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW) – undertakes the licensing activity for state significant development, mining operations, irrigation corporations and government entities. Please note that WaterNSW manages all changes to water access licences including for NSW DCCEEW licensed customers.
Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) is responsible for the enforcement of water laws in NSW.
Details on current NSW water access licences are held on the Water Register.
Related links
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