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In
Australia, people who drill wells or bores to access water from
underground must be licensed.
The aim of
licensing drillers or people who carry out bore construction,
abandonment or any other work on an existing bore is to
ensure:
- the
protection of the groundwater resource from contamination,
deterioration and undue completion
- the long
term economic production of groundwater of the best possible
quality
Why
have a Licensing System?
In the
past, the licensing of Water Well drillers was very fragmented.
Different structures and procedures were developed and used by each
State or Territory, creating problems for both drillers and
licensing authorities. The introduction of national uniformity of
licensing means that the technical knowledge and skills of a
driller licensed in one State or Territory are now being recognised
nationally.
Licence
Classifications
Under the
system now, drillers' licences are classified according to the type
of aquifers and are endorsed with the drilling methods that may be
used. This ensures the skills, knowledge and experience of a
driller will match the groundwater protection requirements. The
classifications are:
Class 1: restricted to drilling operations in single
non-flowing aquifer systems ie. water table aquifers.
Class 2: in addition to operating in Class 1 conditions,
permits drilling operations in multiple on-flowing aquifer systems
ie. confined aquifers.
Class 3: in addition to operating in Class 1 & 2
conditions, permits drilling operations in flowing aquifer systems
ie. artesian aquifers.
The
drilling method endorsements are: Non-drilling rig, Cable Tool,
Auger, Rotary Air and Rotary Mud.
Obtaining
a Licence
In order to
get a Water Well Drillers' Licence, there are 3 components all
requiring assessment.
- Theoretical knowledge
assessed by written examination
- Experience
and skills, assessed orally by the relevant State/Territory
Drillers' Licensing Board
- Demonstration of knowledge
of the Water Act in the relevant State or Territory, assessed by
examination
The results
of the first two components are nationally recognised.
Individual
State/Territory Licensing Committees may also impose various
restrictions to licences, depending on the level of
skills/abilities of the individual.
Before
being considered for a licence, a person must gain a specified
minimum amount of practical experience for the class of licence
being applied for.
How to go
about applying for a Driller's Licence for Waterwell
drilling.
Firstly,
you must have some practical experience of waterwell drilling in
the class of license you intend to apply for. This is usually
gained by working with another licensed driller.
In the
state where you intend to work, you need to apply first to the
relevant licensing body as listed below. They will then advise you
of the subsequent steps, which vary slightly from state to state.
For more information, contact:
| NSW and
ACT |
Department of
Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) |
02 9895
7855
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| Northern
Territory |
Department of
Infrastructure, Planning and Environment (DIPE) |
08 8999
3660
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| Queensland |
Department of Natural
Resources and Mines (DNRM) |
07 4048
4875
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| South
Australia |
Department of Water, Land
and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) |
08 8463
6898
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| Victoria |
Southern Rural
Water |
03 5139
3113
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| Western
Australia |
ADIA WA |
08 9382
5783
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You must
successfully complete an examination for your application for a
Drillers Licence to be considered by the relevant State/Territory
Drillers Licensing Committee/Board. In reviewing your application
for a Drillers Licence, the Licensing Committee/Board will assess
both your theoretical knowledge (from the results of this
examination) and your practical experience and skills.
This examination is conducted by correspondence in most
states.
Click here for the latest
information on Drillers Licensing examinations - results, advice
and costs
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