Water Licences

A question put forward for the Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) regarding water licensing.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (24 September 2008). Will the Minister for the Environment and Conservation advise, for the years 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004:

1. What was the total number of applications for the new water licences;

2. What was the total number of applications for water licence transfers; and

3. Of the above, how many were completed:

(a) within 6 weeks;

(b) within 3 months;

(c) within 12 months;

(a) within 2 years;

(b) within 3 years; and

(c) are not yet complete?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy): The Minister for Environment and Conservation has provided the following information:

Water Licensing transactions are managed in water years that run from 1 July to 30 June.

 
Of the 5,743 new water licence and water licence transfer applicants in the above years, 1,573 were completed within 6 weeks, 353 within 3 months, 326 within 12 months, 10 within 2 years and zero within 3 years.

At 12 November 2008, there were 3,481 not yet complete.

For new water licence applications that remain incomplete for some time, the greatest number is where the applications relate to a prescription process. That is, applicants are required to submit an application for a new water licence as an existing user at the beginning of the prescription process. However the licences are not issued until near the end of the prescription process when the relevant Water Allocation Plan has been adopted. Under these circumstances, the applicants are issued with an authorisation to take water. However, the applications have been registered and remain un-determined. 3,469 new water licences that are not yet complete relate to prescription