Groundwater bore licencing
Apply to construct, alter or decommission a bore or apply to operate a bore.
Groundwater is water found beneath the earth’s surface in sand and in pores and crevices of rocks. Groundwater is typically accessed by a bore. To construct a bore, you need a licence.
Lower Murray Water plays an essential role in the sustainable management of groundwater for local communities and the environment. Managing how much groundwater can be taken under licences is the foundation of sustainable management.
Construct, alter or decommission a bore
To construct, alter or decommission a bore more than 3 metres deep, you need a licence. Your licence must be issued before any bore drilling or construction starts.
Use Form 70 for an application to extract water for a licensable purpose such as irrigation, commercial or dairy.
Use Form 72 for an application to construct or alter a bore for domestic, stock, investigation, observation or monitoring purposes, including decommissioning. You can also apply online through My Water for a lower fee.
- details of the land where you propose to construct/alter/decommission the bore
- details of the applicant
- details of the proposed bore
- proposed use and volume of bore
- cultural heritage assessment
- licensed driller details.
If your application is approved, we will issue your licence within 30 business days.
An application fee applies. Contact our Rural Customer Team on 1800 808 830 for more information.
Operating a bore
You do not need a licence to take water from a bore, dam, river or stream for domestic and stock purposes.
You require a licence to take and use groundwater or operate works for any other purpose. However, bores less than 3 metres deep do not require a works licence.
Use Form 91 to apply for a licence to take and use groundwater and operate works.
A take and use licence (often referred to as a groundwater licence) sets the volume that a person can take from a bore in a year and other associated conditions.
A works licence contains rules that relate to how a bore can be operated, such as how much water can be taken in a day.
A groundwater pumping impact assessment (GPIA) may be requested to support an application for a new licence, amendment of an existing licence, or a transfer of a licence.
- details of the land where you propose to operate the bore
- details of the applicant
- details of the bore
- proposed use and volume of bore
- cultural heritage assessment
- licensed driller details.
You also need to submit a copy of the bore completion report issued by the driller before or with this application.
Once we receive your application, we assess and determine what other information is required. Take and use licenses may take up to 12 months to issue.
An application fee applies. Contact our Rural Customer Team on 1800 808 830 for more information.
A one-off groundwater capital charge applies when a new entitlement (licence) is issued. There are also ongoing costs to use groundwater.
Make a submission about a licence application
If you believe that your interests, or the interests of the environment, could be affected by a licence being issued, you can make a submission. We consider issues that relate to the Water Act 1989 during the licence application process.
See our fact sheet for more information.
To make a public submission about a licence application, use the submission form.
Forms and resources
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Download
Form 70 – Licence to construct works (bore) for a licencable purpose • PDF – 0.31mb
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Download
Form 72 – Licence to construct or alter works (bore) for a non-licencable purpose • PDF – 0.47mb
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Download
Form 91 – Application for licence to take and use groundwater and operate works • PDF – 0.55mb
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Download
Groundwater pumping impact assessment: guidance for assessment and reporting • DOCX – 0.08mb
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Download
Bore completion report CTD/002427 • PDF – 0.1mb
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Download
Submission form – Public submission about a licence application CTD/003830 • PDF – 0.28mb
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Download
Fact sheet – Making a submission about a licence application CTD/003850 • PDF – 0.61mb
