Constructing a bore

Groundwater is a complex and often very fragile resource which plays an important role in natural ecosystems.

Groundwater sources (also known as aquifers) can be accessed by different works such as a bore, well, spearpoint or excavation. An approval or licence must be held to construct any of these works.

Why is an approval or licence required?

Licensing groundwater works, and monitoring the levels of extraction, helps us to sustainably manage our groundwater sources, protecting their quality and the ecosystems that depend on them.

Data gained from drilling a bore is collated in a database of groundwater works in NSW which provides information on the location, quantities and quality of water in the aquifer and the local geology. Click on the adjacent map for records on existing groundwater works, including bores, wells and excavations.

Applying for a groundwater approval or licence

If you want to take groundwater that is managed by a water sharing plan, the Water Management Act 2000 requires landholders to hold:

• a water access licence to take the water - unless the water is to be taken to use under a basic landholder right
• a water supply work approval to construct a bore, well or spear point
• a water use approval to use the water – unless the water is for use under a basic landholder right (or you have obtained a development consent from the local council).

If you want to take groundwater that is not managed by a water sharing plan, the Water Act 1912 requires landholders to hold:

• a groundwater licence to extract groundwater using any type of bore, well, spearpoint or groundwater interception scheme
• a water supply work approval to construct a bore, well or spear point if the groundwater is to be taken to use for domestic consumption and stock watering under a domestic and stock right
  
  From 28 February 2011, all landholders across the State wanting to construct a water bore to take water for domestic consumption or stock watering under a domestic and stock right are required to hold a water supply work approval under the Water Management Act 2000. Former Water Act 1912 licences issued to owners and occupiers of landholdings overlying an aquifer to use water for domestic and stock purposes have been replaced by ‘deemed water supply work approvals’ under the Water Management Act 2000. For more information go to Q&As for water users (PDF 34 KB), or the Water Management (Water Bores for Consumption and Stock Watering) Proclamation 2011 (2011-104) on the NSW Legislation website.

If you want to take groundwater that is for domestic and stock use and your land overlies the aquifer, the Water Management Act 2000 requires all landholders to hold:

• a water supply work approval to construct a water bore, well or spear point to take water to use for domestic consumption and stock watering under a domestic and stock right.

Engaging a driller

If you are engaging a driller, you are responsible for ensuring that the bore is drilled by a person who holds a current NSW driller's licence. Additionally, the licence class must be appropriate for the type of drilling to be undertaken. More info on licence classes.

NSW Office of Water's Groundwater Drilling Unit specialises in the larger and more complex projects requiring a high degree of expertise and access to specialised equipment.

For information on

• water access licence dealings in water sources managed by groundwater sharing plans, go to Dealings and trade
• trading of groundwater in water sources not managed by a groundwater sharing plan, go to Transfers of water under the Water Act 1912