Water Assist
Not sure where to start with your water licence or approval enquiry?
Water Assist is an easy step-by-step tool to help you find the information and support you need for water licencing and approvals.
About basic landholder rights bores
Domestic and stock rights are one type of basic landholder right under the Water Management Act, 2000 (section 52).
Basic landholder rights allow landowners and occupiers to take and use water for domestic consumption and non-intensive stock watering without:
- a water access licence
- a water use approval
- or, in some cases, a water supply work approval
Basic landholder rights bores are also known as bores used for domestic and stock purposes or a water supply work approval to take groundwater under a domestic and stock rights.
You need a water supply work approval if you:
- want to take water for domestic and stock rights using a bore
- to construct a dam to hold water taken using domestic and stock rights.
More information at: Domestic and stock rights
The department and WaterNSW share responsibility for granting and managing approvals for Basic landholder rights bores.
The department issues licences and approvals for:
- government agencies – local, state and Australian
- state-owned corporations
- water utilities, water supply authorities and licensed network operators under the Water Industry Competition Act 2006
- mining activities
- irrigation corporations
- public schools and hospitals
- Aboriginal communities and businesses.
WaterNSW issues licences and approvals for all other applicants.
Learn more about the responsibilities of each agency at: Water agencies
Apply for a new basic landholder rights bore approval
Only the owner or occupier of a landholding has the right to take and use water for domestic consumption and stock watering.
- Determine which water agency will assess your application. The department and WaterNSW share responsibility for granting and managing approvals for Basic Landholder Rights bores. Find out which agency will manage your application at: Water agencies.
- Review the application form and gather all required supporting documents. The application requires detailed information and supporting documents. A list of mandatory supporting documents is provided below. Read the basic landholder rights application form and have the required information ready before you start your application. See our application guide.
- The proposed bore must meet the rules of the relevant water sharing plan.
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- Print or download the application form
- Complete the application form
- Save the completed application form
- Send the completed application form and any supporting documents to the department by email at water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au
- Pay the application fee by credit/debit card (see below).
Email your completed application, make sure to include the following:
- subject title: New BLR application + location of work/s
- short message stating you are applying for a new BLR Approval
- your contact details
- completed and signed application form and any supporting documents (as a PDF file).
- Application form
- Topographic map, aerial photo and/or a farm plan for each property that the work is located on, or one that shows all relevant properties. Clearly label the following information, if applicable:
- Location of property (with north arrow included) − property boundary
- Location of all existing works and location of proposed works. Include pumps, diversion works, flood protection works, bores, storages, channels, etc.
- Location of habitat or vegetation that needs to be cleared or disturbed
Read the basic landholder rights bore approval application form for further details on the required supporting documents.
| Approval type | Application fee | Additional fees (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic landholder rights bore approval | $1,237.38 | $337.10 for a technical referral |
- Fees are charged to cover the cost of assessing applications.
- Once your application has been accepted, an officer from the department will call you to take your payment by credit/debit card.
- Application fees are non-refundable for change of mind or where an application is not granted or refused.
- Find more information at: Application fees
Applications are assessed within 80 working days.
Find more information at: Assessment timeframes
To check the status of an existing application for a basic landholder rights bore approval, if the assessment timeframe has passed, contact water.enquiries@dpie.nsw.gov.au to request an update.
Apply for a basic landholder rights bore
Surrender a basic landholder rights bore approval
You can surrender your basic landholder rights bore approval if it is no longer required.
- The department and WaterNSW share responsibility for granting and managing approvals basic landholder rights bores. Find out which agency will manage your application at: Water agencies
- You do not need to complete an application form to surrender a basic landholder rights bore approval.
- The bore must be decommissioned in accordance with the Minimum Construction Requirements for Water Bores in Australia
- Advise the department by email that the bore is decommissioned and that you want to surrender the approval.
| Approval type | Application fee | Additional fees (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Surrender a water supply work and/or water use approval | $947.64 | N/A |
- Fees are charged to cover the cost of assessing applications.
- Once your application has been accepted, an officer from the department will call you to take your payment by credit/debit card.
- Application fees are non-refundable for change of mind or where an application is not granted or refused.
- Find more information at: Application fees