Water rights, water law and rural property
Water is the most basic element of life. Without a secure water supply, the health and economic development of our regional towns is at risk.
Steep population growth, a changing climate and increased competition to access reliable water sources have led to a greater need for strategic planning and risk analysis at all levels of government to manage Australia’s water resources effectively for all sectors – agribusiness, mining, private landowners and rural families.
Water laws and regulations in New South Wales have changed over time. So has the way we can manage, access and use water. The introduction of new modifying laws in 2014 presented further changes to water management, including changes to licensing requirements, compliance, planning and land use.
Our team can help you, whether you’re looking to buy a rural property, take water from a nearby river to drought-proof your property, subdivide your land while maintaining your rights to take water, manage the family farm or plan for the future of your agribusiness. Our experienced lawyers work closely with specialist engineers and consultants to assist in all matters relating to water law.
- Obtaining Water Access Licences (WALs)
- Buying and selling WALs
- Assignment of share components in WALs
- Transferring WALs
- Water allocations and extractions
- Water pollution and contamination
- Flooding and floodplain management
- Water storage
- Water theft and other criminal and regulatory offences
- Liaising with the NSW Land Registry Services (LRS), WaterNSW, the Natural Resource Access Regulator (NRAR) and other government departments
We understand how important water is to individuals and families, industries, towns and regions. We utilise a range of resources and draw upon experience from across our entire group to help you navigate a complex framework and provide you with a tailored solution to all of your water access, compliance and management needs.
Need advice about water rights, water law and rural property? Call us today
