About irrigation corporations
Irrigation corporations share and manage water supply and drainage infrastructure. They were originally established under the Irrigations Corporations Act 1994 and continue under the Water Management Act 2000. Their operations have not changed and no new irrigation corporations can be created.
There are 5 irrigation corporations listed in schedule 1 of the Water Management Act 2000:
Each corporation is unique and was set up to fulfil a particular function. Corporations may:
- supply water under an access licence or approval
- supply or drain water under an operating licence.
Changing an irrigation corporation area of operation
An irrigation corporation may extend or reduce its area of operation by submitting a joint application with the owner of the land concerned.
Before you apply
The application requires detailed information and supporting documents. Before you apply, read the application guide and application form and gather all required information and documents.
How to apply
- 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 or post it to:
NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Licensing and Approvals, Water Group
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124
Irrigation corporation regulatory improvement program
A detailed review of irrigation corporation licensing administration and management identified areas where regulatory improvements are needed to ensure compliance with the Water Management Act 2000.
The irrigation corporation regulatory improvement program (the program) is in progress and will deliver the following priorities by June 2026:
- establish a dispute resolution organisation, as required under the Water Management Amendment (Water Access Licence Register Reform) Act 2024, supported by an effective regulatory framework
- amend operating licences to introduce new dispute resolution conditions and strengthen transparency and integrity in service delivery to irrigation corporation members
- address legacy licensing and approval matters, including water use approvals and flood work approvals
- establish fees to recover the department’s costs for administering irrigation corporation operating licences.
Engagement with irrigation corporations is informing decision-making and ensuring their feedback is considered.
Operating licence amendments
The first phase of consultation on proposed amendments to irrigation corporation operating licences was held from February to March 2026.
Engagement summary report
View the feedback received and the department’s response.
The feedback received is informing the development of the final amended operating licences. The new operating licences are scheduled to commence on 1 July 2026.
Establishing irrigation corporation fees
A key priority of the program is to establish fees for services that relate to the management and administration of irrigation corporation operating licences. Irrigation corporations have not been charged for these services since 2017.
We consulted with irrigation corporations about the proposed fees from Tuesday 7 April to 5 May 2026.
The proposed fees will recover the costs of regulating and managing irrigation corporation operating licences, as required under Chapter 4 of the Water Management Act 2000.
This work supports the NSW Government’s commitment to the National Water Initiative best practice pricing principles, including cost recovery and user‑pays approaches for water planning and management.
To view the proposed fees and learn more about how the fees were developed, you can read the:
The proposed commencement date for new fees is 1 July 2026.
Frequently asked questions about irrigation corporation fees
Fees are required so that the department can recover the costs associated with providing management, oversight and compliance services for irrigation corporations. Without charging fees, these services are not resourced.
The new fees also support the NSW Government’s commitment to the National Water Initiative best practice pricing principles.
The fees are not required to be approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW (IPART) because they relate to a section of the Water Management Act 2000 that is not covered by IPART. The fees are additional to the water licensing and approval transaction fees that have been approved by IPART and that are already published on our website.
The Minister may impose fees and charges for the purposes of the Water Management Act 2000. The department performs this function on behalf of the Minister, under delegated powers.
The new fees are proposed to apply from 1 July 2026.
You can see a full list of services and the proposed fee schedule in the Irrigation corporation fees background paper.
The department developed the fees based on efficient cost recovery. The department also engaged Frontier Economics to undertake an independent review of the fee model to ensure the proposed fees are efficient and prudent. You can read more about how the fees were developed in the Irrigation corporation fees background paper and in the independent economic review report.
Irrigation corporations will decide how to deal with the new costs, including if they will pass them on to their customers or not.
A list of services and the proposed fees to be introduced from 1 July 2026 is available in the Irrigation corporation fees background paper.
The final fees will be published on our website after they are approved. Irrigation corporations may communicate with their customers and shareholders about the fees.
We consulted with irrigation corporations on the proposed fee structure from 7 April to 5 May 2026. The consultation period included a joint workshop with representatives from the state’s 5 irrigation corporations, as well as individual workshops with each irrigation corporation.
Irrigation corporation customers and shareholders who were interested in providing feedback were encouraged to discuss their feedback with their irrigation corporation.
Contact us
For more information call us on 1300 081 047 or email us at water.enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au