Gippsland - How Now Gippy Cow
December 2010 Edition
When do I need a licence to use water?
Land owners need a licence for most activities associated with water, with very few exceptions.
If you are planning to use groundwater or river water for any sort of commercial purpose – including irrigation and dairy sheds – you will need a “take and use” licence.
Southern Rural Water is responsible for licensing across the southern half of Victoria, from the Great Divide to the coast.
Many areas across the region have had limits imposed on groundwater and river water, and are now capped.
If the cap in your area has been reached, you will not be able to get a new licence. However, you can advertise locally and apply to transfer water from an existing licence holder.
If the cap has not been reached, you can apply for a licence with Southern Rural Water. Staff will assess your application by considering existing and future needs in the area, the environment, and government policy.
Most applications are referred to other agencies and neighbours, and are advertised locally. Where there is enough interest, Southern Rural Water also calls a meeting between the parties to understand any objections raised against your application.
Southern Rural Water will also ask you to obtain a report from a groundwater or surface water expert, looking at the potential impact your proposal may have on your water source.
When all this information is available, Southern Rural Water assesses your application. Staff will either issue your licence, or refuse the application. In either case, any affected party has the right to appeal the decision in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Other licences
Licences are also required to construct bores, or dams on waterways (including natural channels or catchments of 60 hectares or greater).
You will also need a dam operating licence if you have a dam which is:
- 5 metres or higher, with a capacity of 50 ML or more
- 10 metres or higher, with a capacity of 20 ML or more
- 15 metres or higher, regardless of capacity
Domestic and stock dams in rural residential lifestyle areas now need to be registered before being constructed or altered.
If you plan to use water for domestic and stock use, you may need to apply for a licence, depending on where your water comes from.
If you need emergency water for domestic and stock use, there are free emergency water supply points statewide. To find your nearest emergency supply point, phone the Department of Sustainability and Environment on 136 186 or check their website.
For more information about applying for new licences, phone Southern Rural Water on 1300 139 510 or visit www.srw.com.au
