Licensing of water bore drillers
Queensland is part of a national licensing system for water bore drillers that aims to protect groundwater resources. This system also aims to ensure all drillers are properly skilled and that their work meets minimum construction standards.
As the state licensing system is based on the national system, Queensland drillers should find it relatively easy to obtain a licence to work in other parts of Australia.
The legislation empowers the Department of Natural Resource and Mines (the department) to authorise water bores and license water bore drillers to ensure that:
- only those drillers who meet the required standard are licensed
- drillers’ work is monitored to check they continue to meet this standard.
For this to work, landholders must ensure they employ only licensed water bore drillers whose work meets, or is better than, the minimum standards.
Expecting a driller to construct a water bore that does not meet the minimum requirements is unfair, as this puts them in breach of their licence without which they cannot legally operate.
Finding a licensed water bore driller
The department maintains a public register (PDF, 52K)* of licensed water bore drillers, which can help find one in your area.
The register details only those Queensland licensed drillers who have elected to be included.
This extract of the register is updated annually at a minimum. For more recent information, contact the Principal Technical Officer (Drilling) by phone (07) 4048 4875 or email Drillers.Licensing@dnrm.qld.gov.au.
Applying for a drillers' licence
To help applicants apply for a drillers' licence, the department has prepared a kit which includes:
- an application form for a water bore drillers' licence
- Water Act 2000 examination and notes
- enrolment forms for Australian Drilling Industry Training Committee examinations
- a copy of the Water Bore Drillers' Licensing Handbook (PDF, 269K)*
- copies of water bore construction standards
- an explanation of the required fees and application process.
If you would like a kit or any driller's licence application forms sent to you, phone (07) 4048 4875 or email Drillers.Licensing@dnrm.qld.gov.au.
Please provide:
- your name
- postal address
- telephone contact
- details of what you are interested in (e.g new licence, amended licence, renewing an existing licence).
View more information about licence fees.
Licensing handbook
The Queensland Water Bore Drillers’ Licensing Handbook (PDF, 269K)* explains:
- the licensing system
- how it applies to different types of water bores
- what drillers have to do to obtain or upgrade a licence.
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last reviewed 27 June 2012
Last updated 26 March 2012
