Frequently Asked Questions
What is a forward Trade?
A forward trade is an agreement to transfer a future water allocation between water access licences. Unlike a temporary trade, which involves current-year water, a forward trade sets the terms or transferring water that will be allocated in a future water year. The actual transfer takes place once that future allocation becomes available.
What is a permanent trade?
A permanent trade is the transfer of all or part of the water access licence itself from one licence holder to another. Unlike a temporary trade, which only transfers water allocated for the current year, a permanent trade involves a long-term change in ownership or holding of the licence and its associated entitlements.
What is a temporary trade?
A temporary trade—also known as an allocation assignment—is the transfer of current-year water allocation from one water access licence to another. It was previously referred to as a temporary water transfer.
How does the water Trade Calendar Work?
The water trade calendar outlines key dates and deadlines for different types of water trades, such as temporary, permanent, and forward trades. It defines when trades can be submitted, processed, and when water allocations can be used or carried over.
The calendar typically aligns with the water year (1 July to 30 June) and may include trade cut-off dates to ensure accurate accounting before the end of the water year.
Understanding the calendar helps water users plan their trading activities and avoid delays or rejections.
Click here to learn more about the Water Trade Calendar.
What is involved in registering a trade?
Water NSW 71W Form
LRS form W-19WA
What is the cost in registering a trade?
Water NSW 71W Form $1287.83
LRS From W-19WA $171.70 to register
LRS form W-19WA $171.70 to deregister
What is a Water Access Licence?
A Water Access Licence (WAL) with a sufficient share component is required to account for water take. At present, only the Botany Sands Groundwater Source has an exemption from the requirement of a WAL irrespective of water take volume.
Why do I need a Water Supply Work Approval?
Water Supply Work Approvals for construction dewatering are typically conditioned with a volumetric extraction limit for the course of the Development. In no way does this authorise water take without the requirement to obtain and link a WAL with the necessary share component. Any approved work extracting water without a WAL (unless an exemption applies), is doing so in contravention of the Water Management Act 2000.
I draw your attention to Part 2 Access licences, Division 1A Offences, cl. 60A of the Water Management Act 2000.
Water Management Act 2000 No 92
Part 2 Access licences
Division 1A Offences
60A Taking water without, or otherwise than authorised by, an access licence
(1) A person—
(a) who takes water from a water source to which this Part applies, and
(b) who does not hold an access licence for that water source, and
(c) who intentionally or negligently takes that water without obtaining an access licence for that water source, is guilty of an offence. Tier 1 penalty.
Any breach is reported to the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) as the independent compliance regulator for water Management in NSW. Penalties for corporations can include fines of up to but not limited to $1,000,000.