From 1 October 2025, fees for flood work approvals will increase under the Water Management Act 2000. Fees are charged to cover the cost of assessing applications. The fee amount depends on the type of application and whether advertising is required. This is the first fee increase for flood work approvals since 2016. Application fees will now be reviewed annually and adjusted for inflation.
See list of fees below.
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 flood work approvals
A flood work approval allows you to construct and use structures situated in or near a river, estuary or lake, or within a floodplain, and is likely to affect the flow of water to or from a river, estuary or lake, or the distribution or flow of floodwater.
Flood work approvals ensure that the construction or use of a flood work does not negatively affect water sources and their dependent ecosystems, or other water users; and minimise the existing and future risk to human life and property.
Approvals for a flood work are issued under the Water Management Act 2000 and governed by floodplain management plans. The plans specify the types of flood work that may be constructed within that management zone. Applicants need to check the relevant floodplain management plan/s (if applicable) to determine if a flood work approval is required.
Definition of a flood work
A ‘flood work’ is any construction and use of structures that affect the flow or distribution of water from a river, estuary, or lake in times of flood, such as:
- barrages
- causeways
- cuttings
- embankments and levees that prevent inundation of building pads and below ground channels from flood water
- associated equipment such as pipes, valves, or metering equipment.
Exemptions
Some activities do not need a flood work approval, including:
- approved State significant development or state significant infrastructure
- local council works under a development authorisation (if not in a designated high-risk flood area)
- Rail Corporation NSW if the work is for the purposes of a railway
- a roads authority if the work is for the purposes of a public road
- emergency works under emergency management legislation, State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 or State Emergency Service Act 1989
- small ring embankment around a dwelling house, shed or silo not located in a designated high-risk flood area that does not enclose more than the permissible area
- earthworks less than 150 mm above (not below) the natural surface of the ground, which is not in a designated high-risk flood area.
The department and WaterNSW share responsibility for granting and managing flood work approvals.
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 privately owned rural landholders and rural industries. Find more information at WaterNSW.
To learn more about the role of each NSW Water agency with licences and approvals see: Water agencies
Apply for a new flood work approval
A ‘flood work’ is any construction and use of structures that affect the flow or distribution of water from a river, estuary or lake in times of flood.
- Check if your activity is exempt. Some activities do not need a flood work approval. See: Water licence and approvals exemptions to check if this applies to your activities. If exempt, you may still need other approvals – check with your local council. If you are not exempt you need to apply for a flood work approval.
- Determine which water agency will assess your application. Find out which agency will manage your application at: Water agencies.
- Read the relevant floodplain management plan. The application requires detailed information and supporting documents. A list of mandatory supporting documents is provided below. Please read the guide (PDF, 205.45 KB) and application form (PDF, 263.23 KB), and have the required information ready before you start your application. A Guide to searches is available.
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- print or download the application form
- complete the application form
- save the completed and signed application form, ready to email
- send the application form and any supporting documents to the department by email at water.enquiries@dcceew.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 flood work approval application + location of work/s
- short message stating you are applying for a new flood work approval
- your contact details
- completed and signed application form and any supporting documents (as a PDF file).
- Application form (PDF, 263.23 KB)
- Topographic map, aerial photo and/or a farm plan of A3 or A4 size 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.
- rivers and wetlands (including dry riverbeds and temporary wetlands)
- detailed plan of the work/s showing the height of the full length of the work/s above surrounding ground level.
You may also be asked to provide the following to support your application:
- Detailed survey plan using Australian Height Datum (AHD) showing reduced levels relevant to the new/existing work/s
- Hydraulic modelling report. Refer to the Guide to the application form for a new flood works approval for more information.
For more information on the required supporting documents refer to the flood work approval application form (PDF, 263.23 KB).
| Approval type | Application fee | Additional fees (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| New flood work approval | $9,216.74 | $3,492.59 for technical referral |
- Fees are charged to cover the cost of assessing applications.
- Application fees are non-refundable for change of mind or where an application is not granted or refused.
- Once your application has been accepted, an officer from the department will call you to take your payment by credit/debit card.
Find more information at: Application fees
Applications are assessed within 65 working days.
Find more information at: Assessment timeframes
To check the status of an existing application for a flood work approval, contact water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au
Apply for a new flood work approval
Extend a flood work approval
You can apply to extend a flood work approval that is due to expire.
- The department will notify the nominated contact person 60 days prior to the expiry of a flood work approval.
- You need to complete and sign the supplied application form. Note: if there is more than one approval holder, all co-holders must sign a joint application.
- If there are changes to any details in the approval, you must contact the department.
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- If your approval expires in less than 60 days and/or you have not received an email with the extension notice, contact us on water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au.
- print or download the application form
- complete the application form
- save the completed application form ready to email
- send the application form and any supporting documents to the department by email at water.enquiries@dcceew.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: Extend flood Works application + location of work/s
- short email applying for a flood works approval
- your contact details
- your completed and signed application form (as a PDF file)
| Approval type | Application fee | Additional fees (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Extend flood work approval - Before expiry | $2,820.90 | n/a |
| Extend flood work approval - After expiry | $3,383.34 | n/a |
- Fees are charged to cover the cost of assessing applications.
- Application fees are non-refundable for change of mind or where an application is not granted or refused.
- Once your application has been accepted, the department will call you to take your payment by credit/debit card.
- Find more information at: Application fees
Applications are assessed within 65 working days.
Find more information at: Assessment timeframes
To check the status of an existing application for a flood work approval, if the assessment timeframe has passed, contact water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au to request an update.
Amend a flood work approval
You must apply for approval before making changes to flood works.
- Confirm which agency will assess your application. The department and WaterNSW share responsibility for granting and managing flood work approvals. Find out which agency will manage your application at: Water agencies
- The application requires detailed information and supporting documents. A list of mandatory supporting documents is provided below. Please read the application guide and application form and have the required information ready before you start your application.
- Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- print or download the application form
- complete the application form
- save the completed application form
- send the application form and any supporting documents to the department by email at water.enquiries@dcceew.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: Amend flood Works application + location of work/s
- short email applying for a flood works approval
- your contact details
- your completed and signed application form (as a PDF file)
- Application form
- An amendment report detailing all proposed changes to flood work/s
- Amended plans annotating amendments.
- Document comparing previously approved works and amended works
- Topographic map, aerial photo and/or a farm plan of A3 or A4 size 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.
- rivers and wetlands (including dry riverbeds and temporary wetlands)
detailed plan of the work/s showing the height of the full - length of the work/s above surrounding ground level.
- location of property (with north arrow included)
You may also be asked to provide the following to support your application:
- Detailed survey plan using Australian Height Datum (AHD) showing reduced levels relevant to the new/existing work/s
- Hydraulic modelling report. Refer to the guide to the application form for a new flood works approval for more information.
Refer to the flood work approval application form for further details on required supporting documents.
| Approval type | Application fees | Additional fees (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Amend a flood work approval | $9,216.74 | $3,492.59 for 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 65 working days.
Find more information at: Assessment timeframes
To check the status of an existing application for a flood work approval, if the assessment timeframe has passed, contact water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au to request an update.
Surrender a flood work approval
- contact the department to request a surrender of the water supply work and/or use approval form by email water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au
- follow the instructions on this form
- if there is more than one holder on the approval, all holders must agree to the surrender
- all structures that affect the flow or distribution of water must be removed
- you must comply with any conditions of the approval.
The landholder may be required to provide evidence to demonstrate that no flood work remains in place or has been created by the removal of material (see Guidance Note 2 (PDF, 87.6 KB)) with a survey and photos as necessary
There is no fee to surrender a flood work approval.
The estimated timeframe to process a request to surrender a flood work approval will be given when the request is lodged.
To check the status of your request contact water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au for an update.