Licensing & trade

Licences

Licences to take water from a river, lake or aquifer.

Approvals

Authorisations to construct certain works or carry out certain activities which can impact on land and water resources.

Compliance

Water theft and harming water sources are serious crimes. Compliance with licence and approval requirements is critical to sharing of our precious water resources and preventing harm to water supplies and our environment.

Governance

Departments and agencies with water management responsibilities in NSW.

Landholder rights

Landholder rights to take water from a river, lake or aquifer without a water licence or approval in certain circumstances.

Trade

Water licences are a valuable asset. You can trade water access licences, licence shares and water allocations.

NSW Water Register

Public access to information about water licences, approvals, water trading and environmental water.