Stock and domestic
Access to stock and domestic water
All rights to the use, flow and control of all water in Queensland are vested in the State. However, under Section 20 of the Queensland Water Act 2000 taking water for stock and domestic purposes is a right and does not require any additional authorisation. A person may take water from an adjoining watercourse, or from overland flow (whether it is collected in a dam or not) for traditional stock and domestic purposes. Stock and domestic water rights are not tradeable in Queensland.
Stock use is limited to watering those animals that would normally graze on the land on which the water is to be used. This includes seasonal variations in stock numbers and also allows for watering grazing stock that are temporarily yarded for husbandry, health, transport or other purposes. Domestic use allows the taking of water for household use and irrigating a garden not exceeding 2500 square metres provided that no produce from the garden is bartered, exchanged or sold.
Delivering stock and domestic water supplies are ‘self-assessable’ development but must comply with:
The works do not require prior approval, however they must be registered with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines when completed. The code applies only to works that consist of a pump, spear, well, gallery, or gravity diversion. The Codes and further details can be found here. Information on new works to take overland flow for stock and domestic purposes can be found here. Those considering stock and domestic water supply decisions are encouraged to contact DNRM on 13 74 68 to ensure they obtain accurate, up to date information for their circumstances.
Changes to Water Licence Arrangements from 1 July 2009
As of 1 July 2009, the Queensland Government made changes to the payment of annual water licence fees upon renewal. Under the new arrangements the requirement for an annual licence fee does not accompany the renewal application and instead the licensee is invoiced annually for the water licence fee while the licence remains in force.
A water licence remains exempt from the payment of the annual water licences fees if:
Prior to 1 July 2009 the annual water licence fee was made upfront at the time of the original application or the renewal application for a period of up to five years – thus the new arrangements are NOT a new charge, only a change in the process whereby annual licence fees are invoiced by the Department.
For further information see Changes to Water Licence Arrangements.
All rights to the use, flow and control of all water in Queensland are vested in the State. However, under Section 20 of the Queensland Water Act 2000 taking water for stock and domestic purposes is a right and does not require any additional authorisation. A person may take water from an adjoining watercourse, or from overland flow (whether it is collected in a dam or not) for traditional stock and domestic purposes. Stock and domestic water rights are not tradeable in Queensland.
Stock use is limited to watering those animals that would normally graze on the land on which the water is to be used. This includes seasonal variations in stock numbers and also allows for watering grazing stock that are temporarily yarded for husbandry, health, transport or other purposes. Domestic use allows the taking of water for household use and irrigating a garden not exceeding 2500 square metres provided that no produce from the garden is bartered, exchanged or sold.
Delivering stock and domestic water supplies are ‘self-assessable’ development but must comply with:
- the self-assessable code for the development of riparian water access works on a watercourse, lake or spring; and/or
- the code for self-assessable development for taking overland flow water for stock and domestic purposes.
The works do not require prior approval, however they must be registered with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines when completed. The code applies only to works that consist of a pump, spear, well, gallery, or gravity diversion. The Codes and further details can be found here. Information on new works to take overland flow for stock and domestic purposes can be found here. Those considering stock and domestic water supply decisions are encouraged to contact DNRM on 13 74 68 to ensure they obtain accurate, up to date information for their circumstances.
Changes to Water Licence Arrangements from 1 July 2009
As of 1 July 2009, the Queensland Government made changes to the payment of annual water licence fees upon renewal. Under the new arrangements the requirement for an annual licence fee does not accompany the renewal application and instead the licensee is invoiced annually for the water licence fee while the licence remains in force.
A water licence remains exempt from the payment of the annual water licences fees if:
- A water licence is to take only supplemented water; or
- A water licence is to take water for stock or domestic purposes, unless the licence is for taking underground water for stock or domestic purposes from the Great Artesian Basin.
Prior to 1 July 2009 the annual water licence fee was made upfront at the time of the original application or the renewal application for a period of up to five years – thus the new arrangements are NOT a new charge, only a change in the process whereby annual licence fees are invoiced by the Department.
For further information see Changes to Water Licence Arrangements.