Water savings licence

You must include the following in your application:

• all details of the proposed bore works, such as
  • how it will control the bore (e.g. repairs, relining, bore replacement, plugging, etc)
  • what pipeline, tank and trough network you will use
• details of funding source(s) for the bore works—your own money, a third party or a mix of both—you cannot use any government funding and be eligible for this licence
• using Queensland Globe, provide map(s) showing
  • bore locations
  • the existing and proposed piping distribution network
  • existing bore drains
  • and
  • property boundaries.

We may request evidence/justification that the proposed bore works will provide a long-term controlled and watertight system (e.g. a geophysical log and written advice from the logger or driller, in which they could state that the existing construction is sound, suitable and has the capability to be connected to a controlled water distribution system).

Take photos of the existing bores and other relevant features, such as bore pool and drains before installation. Use these as part of your evidence.

Before any work starts, you will need a flow test report.

Your historic flow testing measurements may be available from bore reports through Queensland Globe. If the last test is more than 10 years old, get a current test by a water bore driller (PDF, 114KB).

The flow test report must include:

• name of the person testing the bore
• method of testing the bore
• locations of the recordings
• flow recorded on arrival
• full free flow
• shut-in pressure.

Water savings are based on current losses from the bore therefore the flow test shouldn’t only measure the full free flow, but also measure the water loss. For example, measure flows at the drains if your bore is partially piped and partially distributed by drains. If the bore is leaking, measure the flow of the leak.

You must provide information about what the existing water uses are and what volumes of water support them. This may include:

• stock numbers normally de-pastured and watered from the bore and/or carrying capacity of the land – this could include stocking rates over a 10-year period
• information on any existing entitlements (such as irrigation) watered from the bore – include evidence of the water licences you have for those uses.

You must also provide information about any previous remedial works on the bore or piping, including:

• date(s)
• water savings attributed to the works
• flow rates
• details of the previous works.

Where works were funded through government programs, we may have access to the details of what was completed.

You must provide evidence of completed bore works.

If you are applying after you’ve controlled your bore, send the evidence with your application form.

If you are applying before you finish the works, remember to send your evidence once work starts, as you do the work and when you finish it.

Your water savings licence is not valid without evidence of the works.

Evidence may include:

• copies of water bore drilling log and cementing reports for the new bore or rehabilitation works, and/or plugging reports for any replaced bore
• copies of tax invoices for costs such as materials used (e.g. pipes, tanks, trough, etc), drillers/contractor fees for remediation of existing bores/constructing replacement bores, installation of distribution works and other expenditure related to the works
• information that supports that the constructed works will provide a long-term controlled and watertight system, which may include information about the Australian Standard of the materials used, warranties provided by suppliers or contractors, and design life of the works
• updated maps outlining proposed and as-constructed piping distribution network, including tanks, troughs, and storages – maps should include other features such as location of any new and plugged bores, and decommissioned bore drains
• photos of installation of work and completed works of bores, piping, troughs, tanks, and decommissioned bore drains.

If you are applying for greater than 30% of water saved, we must consider 2 additional matters of your application.

Is the greater percentage an incentive to you to complete the required bore works for the water bore?

Provide information on how a volume greater than 30% of the water savings provides an incentive to the licensee, or another person, including details such as:

• how the benefits of a greater volume would offset part, or all, of the cost associated with the required works
• cost estimates in the form of quotes for design, materials, and construction.

The incentive may also relate to the availability or limitations of alternative water supplies for the proposed purpose or development that may arise from the future use of water savings. Provide information on existing and potential water sources for the proposed use, and outline why access to additional water (greater than 30%) represents a better option compared to other alternatives.

Does the greater percentage to you still promote (and not negatively affect) the GABORA water plan outcomes?

The GABORA water plan seeks to achieve a sustainable balance between 6 outcomes. The following 3 outcomes are relevant to applications for a water savings licence.

Water use efficiency

The efficient use of water incorporates demand management and water conservation measures. It may also consider the volume and quality of water required for different circumstances, including release into the environment.

Demand management, for water, is defined in the Water Act 2000 as including:

• reducing demand for water
• increasing the efficiency of water supply works
• increasing the efficiency of the use of water by end users
• substituting to a process that does not use a water resource from one that does use a water resource
• substituting one water resource for another.

In your application, include supporting information on the efficiency of the proposed water use, such as:

• details of volumes for each purpose proposed
• how you calculated those volumes
• information on how the proposed water use meets industry best practice in water use efficiency
• information on current and proposed water demand efficiency measures.

Examples may include:

• an irrigation proposal providing information on cropping types, proposed water use, watering methods and efficiency measures
• an intensive livestock development providing details of standard cattle units and how water requirements meet the industry standards
• a mining operation providing information on water requirements for different uses (accommodation, dust suppression, processing) and proposed measures to minimise water demand and increase water use efficiency.

Making water available for development

In your application, provide information or studies on the proposed development, such as the economic, employment, social and environmental benefits to the individual property, and/or local area, and/or the region and state.

The level of detail required will be relative to the size of the project and volumes sought. For significant projects, this may include environmental impact statements and other supporting documents. For smaller projects such as on-farm irrigation, it may include benefits to the self-sufficiency, value adding, and/or diversification to the farming operation.

Making water available for social and cultural activities, including aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

In your application, provide information on whether the proposed water use provides social, cultural or economic, employment benefits to Aboriginal peoples and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We consider a water bore controlled if it is:

• a sub-artesian bore
• an artesian bore that has permanent headworks controlling the flow of water from the bore
• or
• an artesian bore with water that no longer flows naturally to the surface.

The original water licence, typically for stockwatering or domestic purposes, will remain with the existing licensee. We will amend the conditions requiring the bore to be watertight once you’ve completed the required bore works. There are no further amendments made to the licence and the licensee can continue to access water under this water licence.

A water bore has a watertight delivery system if you can:

• turn off/on the water flow (controlled)
• distribute or contain the water with pipes/troughs
• minimise water loss by maintaining
  • the bore, pipeline and trough
  • any cooling pond or storage tank.

Bore works may include:

• works to install a watertight delivery system for the bore
• permanent headworks to control the flow of water from the bore
• a pipeline to distribute water taken from the bore.

'Required' bore works is a condition of the licence to make the bore watertight.

The volume of saved water is determined by us by estimating the following volumes and then deducting volume b) from volume a):

1. how much water you took from the bore during a water year before the works
2. how much water you will take from the bore during a water year after the works.

You can use water taken under a water savings licence for any purpose. However, we initially limit the licence granted to take from the same location and groundwater unit as the original bore.