Water Allocation Plans & Licences

Water Allocation Plans

A water allocation plan becomes part of a regional NRM plan.

Some considerations it must include are:

The water needs of ecosystems
A balanced allocation of water between environmental, social and economic needs
Anticipation of future water needs
Monitoring the demands on the water and evaluating the capacity of the
water source to meet those demands
How to use the water sustainably including how the use in one place will affect users in another place

Water Licences

Water licences are granted by the Minister and are endorsed with a water (taking) allocation or a water (holding) allocation.

Water licences must include a number of details including:

Specifying the water resource and the parts thereof that water can be taken from
Endorsing an allocation that includes an expiry date and specifies quantity
Special conditions within the Murray-Darling Basin

Prescribed Water Resources

A watercourse, lake or well may be declared a prescribed water resource and there must be a three-month period of public consultation for proposed areas.

Once an area has been declared, a water allocation plan is developed. Under a water allocation plan, people may be licensed to use the water.

The licences come in two forms:
Water (taking) allocation
Water (holding) allocation

The Minister may reserve excess water in a prescribed water resource.

Water (Holding) Allocation

Preserves the right to access water in a prescribed water resource
Licensee not authorised to take water, but may make a request to convert a licence to a water (taking) allocation
Water cannot be allocated to another licence or use but the licence can be transferred
Allocation may be reduced by the Minister with seven days notice
Licensee may transfer water allocation or licence for a limited period or permanently

Water (Taking) Allocation

Authorises the holder to take water from a prescribed water resource
Must be consistent with the relevant water allocation plans
Licensee may convert to a water (holding) allocation
Allocation may be reduced by the Minister with seven days notice
Licensee may transfer water allocation or licence for a limited period or permanently

Water Allocation Plans & Licences