Basin state governments create the majority of rules governing water trade in the Basin. They are responsible for developing and maintaining the rules around water access and use.
The Basin Plan requires all states to provide us with a copy of their trading rules. We have published these rules below to make them easier to find.
The following trading rules have been provided by the states, we have made no changes to the information provided to us. As the responsibility for these rules lies with the states, they are the best source of additional information about these rules.
Australian Capital Territory
The Water Resources Act 2007 (ACT) controls the use of water resources in the Australian Capital Territory, including the allocation of water and water use licensing. Specifically, Section 26 of this Act contains rules for the transfer of water access entitlements.
More information on water trade within Australian Capital Territory is available on their water trade page.
New South Wales
The New South Wales water market legislative framework is established through the Water Management Act 2000 (NSW). Chapter 3, Part 2, Division 4 of the Act contains the rules for the various trades (dealings) available in New South Wales.
Under the Access Licence Dealing Principles Order 2004, the minister may establish general dealing principles to regulate or prohibit the trade of water access licences within New South Wales.
The Water Management Act 2000 (NSW) also provides for the creation of water sharing plans. Water sharing plans set out the water source specific management rules, including the ‘access licence dealings rules’ (trade rules) that govern trade in any given water source. New South Wales Water Sharing Plans are accessible on the New South Wales Government website.
Additional rules that govern interstate trade between New South Wales Border Rivers and Queensland Border Rivers are contained in the Intergovernmental Agreement 2008 for the New South Wales Border Rivers and Queensland Border Rivers.
Additional rules that govern interstate trade in the southern connected Basin are contained in Schedule D of Schedule 1 of the Water Act 2007 (Cth).
Queensland
The Queensland water market legislative framework is established through the Water Act 2000 (QLD). Sections 128-135, 146A-150 and 151-153 of the Act contains the relevant trading rules for all water management areas in Queensland.
The Queensland land and title practice manual outlines the conveyance framework for registering permanent trade approvals, or trades not requiring resource manager approval.
Up-to-date market information for trades involving a change in location is also available on the Queensland water markets and trading page.
See links to the Queensland water resource area trading rules below. We have linked to complete documents for your reference and identified trading rules where relevant.
Border Rivers
- Rules that govern trade between New South Wales Border Rivers and Queensland Border Rivers are contained in the Intergovernmental Agreement 2008 for the New South Wales Border Rivers and Queensland Border Rivers.
- The trading rules for the Border Rivers water resource plan area are outlined in Parts 3, 4 and Part 5 Division 2 of the Water Resource (Border Rivers) Plan 2003.
- More specific trading rules for the water supply schemes in the Border Rivers are contained in Border Rivers Resource Operation Plan 2008. To access these rules, refer to:
- Chapter 9 Part 2, ss251-252 for interstate trading arrangements
- Chapter 6 Parts 3 and 4 for rules relating to the Border Rivers Water Supply Scheme
- Chapter 4 Parts 3 and 4 for rules relating to the Macintyre Brook Water Supply Scheme.
- For trading rules that relate to Border Rivers water management areas, refer to Chapters 7 and 9, and Attachments 1, 2, 3A and 3B of the Border Rivers Resource Operations Plan Amendment 2011.
Condamine–Balonne
- The trading rules for the Condamine–Balonne water resource plan area are outlined in Part 3, 4 and Part 5 Division 2 of the Water Plan (Condamine–Balonne) 2004.
- More specific trading rules for the water supply schemes in the Condamine–Balonne are contained in various chapters within the Condamine and Balonne Resource Operations Plan December 2008 (Amended July 2015). To access these rules, refer to:
- Chapter 9 Part 3 and 4 for Chinchilla Weir Water Supply Scheme
- Chapter 10 Part 3 and 4 for Maranoa River Water Supply Scheme
- Chapter 11 Part 3 and 4 for St George Water Supply Scheme
- Chapter 8 Part 3 and 4 for Upper Condamine Water Supply Scheme.
- Sunwater also contains trading rules for each of the water supply schemes in Condamine–Balonne. For these rules, refer to the:
- For trading rules that relate to the Condamine–Balonne water management areas, refer to the following parts in the Condamine and Balonne Resource Operations Plan 2011.
- Chapter 4 and Attachment 5 Part 1 for the Upper Condamine Water Management Area.
- Chapter 5 and Attachment 5 Part 2 for the Condamine and Balonne Water Management Area.
- Chapter 6 and 12 and Attachment 5 Part 3 for the Lower Balonne Water Management Area.
- Chapter 7 and Attachment 5 Part 4 for the Condamine and Balonne Tributaries Water Management Area.
Warrego, Paroo and Nebine
- The trading rules for the Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine water resource plan area are outlined in Part 3, 4 and Part 5 Division 2 of the Water Plan (Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo, Nebine) 2015.
- More specific trading rules for the Cunnamulla Water Supply Scheme are contained in Chapter 3 Part 3 Division 3 of the Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine Resource Operations Plan 2006.
- Sunwater also have rules on their water trading page for the Cunnamulla Water Supply Scheme.
- For trading rules that relate to the Warrego, Paroo and Nebine water management areas, refer to the following parts in the Warrego, Paroo, Bulloo and Nebine Resource Operations Plan 2006:
- Chapters 1 and 4 and Attachments 1 and 2A for the Upper and Lower Warrego Water Management Area
- Chapters 1 and 4 and Attachments 1 and 2B of the Paroo Water Management Area
- Chapters 1 and 4 and Attachments 1 and 2D of the Nebine Water Management Area.
Moonie River
- The trading rules for the Moonie water resource plan area are outlined in Part 3, 4 and Part 5 Division 2 of the Water Resource (Moonie) Plan 2003.
- For trading rules that relates to the Moonie water management area, refer to Chapters 1 and 3 and Attachments 1 and 2 in the Moonie River Resource Operations Plan 2006.
South Australia
The South Australian water market legislative framework is established through the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 (SA). The Act outlines the rules for transfer of water licences and water access entitlements (Section 150) and the transfer of water allocations (Section 157). Water Allocation Plans may also transfer criteria that regulates the trade of water access rights.
See links to the South Australian water resource area trading rules below. We have linked to complete documents for your reference and identified trading rules where relevant.
River Murray Prescribed Watercourse
Interstate Trade
- Rules that govern interstate trade in the southern connected Basin are contained in Schedule D of Schedule 1 of the Water Act 2007 (Cth).
Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Prescribed Water Resource
South Australia Prescribed Wells Areas within the Murray–Darling Basin
Victoria
The Victorian water market legislative framework is established through the Water Act 1989 (VIC). Victoria has a set of trading rules for declared systems and a set of trading rules for non-declared systems (groundwater and unregulated surface water).
The Trading rules for declared water systems applies to trade within, into and out of declared water systems. The Policies for managing take and use licences and other related documents contain the trade rules for undeclared systems.
More information about these rules is available on the Victoria trading rules page.
