Licence applications and dealings
The Gold Coast draft water plan proposes changes to limitations on water entitlement applications and dealings.
The draft water plan outlines which water licence applications and dealings will not be accepted and explains exemptions, where they apply. It also includes a new section (s33) which outlines certain applications for dealings that are inconsistent with the plan.
The draft plan does not allow applications for new water licences to take or interfere with water (e.g. by impoundment), except for town water supply. New licences to take water will only be issued through an unallocated water release process.
Exceptions include:
- licences to interfere with water by diversion (e.g. for housing or canal developments)
- licences to interfere with water by impoundment for town water supply
- licences to take water for relift purposes (extraction or use of water that has already been diverted or stored under another authorisation).
Applications or dealings that would increase the volume of water taken or increase the maximum rate of take will also be explicitly prohibited under the draft plan. Proposed dealing rules are specified in the draft water management protocol.