Victoria
Water Shares
A water share is a continuous entitlement to a share of the water available in the water system which the water share is held. It also provides you with a right to a share of the water in a dam.
A water share will include the following features:
its water system (Goulburn, Murray or Macalister);
its reliability, and
the volume, (100 megalitres (ML)).
The volume of a water share is defined as the maximum amount of allocation that can be made against it each year.
All water shares are linked to a water allocation account through which each allocation of the share is provided.
Water shares are issues by the local water corporation as authorised through the Victorian water legislation, Water Act 1989 (Vic).
Water Use Licence
A water-use licence is an entitlement to the owner of the licence, the owner of the land in the licence, to irrigate a specific parcel or parcels of land. The licence contains conditions for use (e.g., how much water you are available to use on your land in a single irrigation season).
You need a water-use licence if you’re supplied with water for irrigation from the regulated Murray, Goulburn, Broken, Loddon, Campaspe, Bullarook, Werribee or Macalister systems.
This type of water licence is tied to the land. If you sell your property the water-use licence automatically transfers to the new owner, unless part of the property is sold separately.
Delivery Share
A delivery share is a water entitlement to have water delivered to land in an irrigation area.
The delivery share provides you with access to a share of the available capacity/allocation in the channel or piped network that supplies water to your property/land for which you require water.
This provides the delivery shareholder with security when there is high demand for water.
A delivery share is tied to the land and stays with the property if it is bought or sold.
Works Licences
A works licence is a licence to construct, operate, alter, decommission or remove works associated with the extraction of water. This could include bores, pumps or dams. Each licence is subject to conditions set by the Minister and specified on the licence.
Works licences are issued and managed by water corporations in accordance with policy.
See the Victorian Water Departments page for more information on water corporations.
Take and Use Water Licence
A take and use licence is a fixed term entitlement to take and use water from a waterway, catchment dam, spring, soak or aquifer. Each take and use water licence is subject to conditions set by the Minister and will be specfied on the licence provided.
Other rights
More water rights exist in Victoria which include:
Geothermal groundwater licensing
Approvals for underground water disposal
For more information on the above other rights, please contact us.
Water Rights in Victoria
Victoria Water Legislation
In Victoria, all water is governed by the Water Act 1989 (Vic) in conjunction with the Water Act 2007 (Cth).
