Buy a water authorisation
You may be able to buy water from someone who already holds a water authorisation (water allocation or water licence).
Before you buy, decide if you need short-term or long-term water access. This will help you decide which is the best water authorisation for your needs.
Step 1: Find a seller
To find a seller, you can either:
- conduct your own research to find a suitable seller
- hire a water broker.
When finding a seller, you should negotiate, decide and agree on:
- the type of authorisation you need and how long you need water for (e.g. permanently, temporarily or by leasing)
- the amount of water you are buying
- the sale price of the water
- whether the location of the water authorisation needs to be changed (if buying a water allocation).
If you are buying a water allocation, you can review the weighted average sale prices of recent water allocation sales to help you determine a fair sale price.
Step 2: Finalise your purchase
It is recommended that you and your seller have an agreement in place for the purchase of the water authorisation.
To finalise the purchase, your seller will complete most of the paperwork but may require you to complete some of the below forms relevant to your type of purchase.
Application fees will apply when submitting and finalising your water trade.
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Forms for a permanent purchase or lease of an unsupplemented water allocation:
- Notice of proposed transfer or lease of unsupplemented water allocation (PDF, 703KB).
- Relevant forms from Titles Queensland
- permanent purchase: Form 1 – Transfer and Form 24 – Property transfer information
- lease: Form 7 – Lease/sublease.
Forms for a temporary purchase of a:
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To finalise buying a supplemented water allocation, choose the option that applies to you.
For a permanent purchase or lease of a supplemented water allocation, your seller:
- will contact the water supply scheme operator to request them to complete the Notice to registrar of water allocations of existence of supply contact (PDF, 623KB).
- may need you to complete relevant forms from Titles Queensland
- permanent purchase: Form 1 – Transfer and Form 24 – Property transfer information
- lease: Form 7 – Lease/sublease.
For a temporary purchase of a supplemented water allocation, your seller:
- will contact the water supply scheme operator to discuss the requirements
- may need you to complete some forms required by the water supply scheme operator.
Step 3: Confirm the purchase
Before taking water under the water authorisation you bought, ensure that for:
- permanent purchase or lease of a water allocation, the details of the sale are registered on the water allocation register (WAR)
- temporary purchase of a water allocation or water licence, you have received a seasonal water assignment notice.
Taking water without a water authorisation is an offence under the Water Act 2000.