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 water licence and approval exemptions
Some activities and customers are exempt from needing a water licence and/or approval under the Water Management Act and Water Management (General) Regulation 2018. If an exemption applies you don’t need to apply for a water licence or approval.
Water licences and approvals have different exemptions. Some exemptions may still need you to submit information to the department to review before interacting with water.
Find out if your activities are exempt from a water licence and/or approval and whether you need to submit information to the department by reading the information on the relevant exemption pages below.
Exemptions are available for controlled activities on waterfront land.
Exemptions are available for the construction and use of a water supply work and for landholders, public authorities and others.
Exemptions are available for drought works where water utilities may need to draw water from alternative sources to address urgent demand to maintain water supplies for local communities.
Exemptions are available for the temporary dewatering of groundwater if taking 3ML or less of groundwater per year in any water source if it is not taken for consumption or supply
Exemptions are available for the removal of groundwater or overland flow water for emergency works to address an immediate risk (under emergency management legislation).
Exemptions are available for landholders that have basic landholder rights to take water.
Exemptions are available for construction and use of structures that affect the flow or distribution of water from a river, estuary, or lake in times of flood.