{"id":"nsw:sl-1995-0534","name":"Water (Part 5—Drillers’ Licences) Regulation 1995","slug":"water-part-5-drillers-licences-regulation-1995","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"nsw","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"534 of 1995","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":180635,"registerId":"nsw-nsw:sl-1995-0534-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name of Regulation","content":"#### 1 Name of Regulation\n\n1 Name of Regulation\n\n> This Regulation may be cited as the [Water (Part 5—Drillers’ Licences) Regulation 1995](/view/html/inforce/current/sl-1995-0534).","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n2 Commencement\n\n> This Regulation commences on 1 September 1995.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 3 Definitions\n\n3 Definitions\n\n> > (1) In this Regulation:\n> > \n> > the Act means the [Water Act 1912](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1912-044).\n> \n> > (2) In this Regulation, a reference to a form is a reference to a Form set out in Schedule 1.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Classes of drillers’ licences","content":"#### 4 Classes of drillers’ licences\n\n4 Classes of drillers’ licences\n\n> > (1) For the purposes of section 118A (1) (b) of the Act, the following 6 classes of drillers’ licences are prescribed:\n> > \n> > > (a) a *class 1 licence*, being a licence that allows construction of water level and water quality monitoring bores,\n> > \n> > > (b) a *class 2 licence*, being a licence that allows construction of sub-artesian stock and domestic supply bores up to 152 mm nominal bore casing,\n> > \n> > > (c) a *class 3 licence*, being a licence that allows the activities of a class 2 licence and also allows the construction of sub-artesian, screened and developed bores (with open hole, slotted casing or screen completion methods, including the use of a formation stabiliser, but not including gravel filter envelope completion techniques),\n> > \n> > > (d) a *class 4 licence*, being a licence that allows activities of a class 3 licence and also allows the use of gravel filter envelope completion techniques,\n> > \n> > > (e) a *class 5 licence*, being a licence that allows activities of a class 2 licence and also allows the construction of flowing and non-flowing bores that penetrate the sandstone aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin and the construction of flowing bores elsewhere in New South Wales,\n> > \n> > > (f) a *class 6 licence*, being a licence that allows activities of both a class 4 licence and a class 5 licence.\n> \n> > (2) A driller’s licence may restrict its holder to the use of one or more of the following drilling methods:\n> > \n> > > (a) auger,\n> > \n> > > (b) jetting,\n> > \n> > > (c) cable tool,\n> > \n> > > (d) rotary air,\n> > \n> > > (e) rotary hydraulic,\n> > \n> > > (f) such other method as is specified in the licence.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Applications for drillers’ licences","content":"#### 5 Applications for drillers’ licences\n\n5 Applications for drillers’ licences\n\n> > (1) For the purposes of section 118A (3A) of the Act:\n> > \n> > > (a) the prescribed form of application for a driller’s licence is Form 1, and\n> > \n> > > (b) the prescribed fee to accompany an application for a driller’s licence is $44.\n> \n> > (2) The Ministerial Corporation must refund the fee if an application does not result in the issue of a licence.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Form of licence","content":"#### 6 Form of licence\n\n6 Form of licence\n\n> For the purposes of section 118A (3A) of the Act, the prescribed form of driller’s licence is Form 2.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Repeal","content":"#### 7 Repeal\n\n7 Repeal\n\n> > (1) The Water (Part 5) Drillers’ Licences Regulation 1990 is repealed.\n> \n> > (2) Any act, matter of thing that, immediately before the repeal of the Water (Part 5) Drillers’ Licences Regulation 1990, had effect under that Regulation is taken to have effect under this Regulation.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 1","sectionType":"schedule","heading":"Forms","content":"# Schedule 1 Forms\n\nSchedule 1 Forms\n\nForm 1\n\n(Clause 5)\n\nAPPLICATION FOR DRILLER’S LICENCE\n\n(Section 118A, [Water Act 1912](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1912-044))\n\nTo: The Water Administration Ministerial Corporation  \nI, .............................. of. ............................................................\n\n| (name in full) | (address in full) |\n\nNew South Wales ............................................................\n\n|  | (occupation) |\n\napply for a driller’s licence under section 118A of the [Water Act 1912](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1912-044). I furnish the following information in support of my application:\n\n> 1. I \\*am a licensed driller.  \n> \\*am not\n\n> 2. Date of birth:\n\n> 3. Class of licence applied for:\n> \n> | *(a) | Class 1. | Licence that allows construction of water level and water quality monitoring bores. |\n> | *(b) | Class 2. | Licence that allows construction of sub-artesian stock and domestic supply bores up to 152 mm nominal bore casing. |\n> | *(c) | Class 3. | Licence that allows the activities of a class 2 licence and also allows the construction of sub-artesian, screened and developed bores (with open hole, slotted casing or screen completion methods, including the use of a formation stabiliser, but not including gravel filter envelope completion techniques). |\n> | *(d) | Class 4. | Licence that allows the activities of a class 3 licence and also allows the use of gravel filter envelope completion techniques. |\n> | *(e) | Class 5. | Licence that allows the activities of a class 2 licence and also allows the construction of flowing and non-flowing bores that penetrate the sandstone aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin and the construction of flowing bores elsewhere in New South Wales. |\n> | *(f) | Class 6. | Licence that allows the activities of both a class 4 licence and a class 5 licence. |\n\n> 4. Types of drilling methods to be used:\n> \n> > \\*(a) auger;\n> \n> > \\*(b) jetting;\n> \n> > \\*(c) cable tool;\n> \n> > \\*(d) rotary air;\n> \n> > \\*(e) rotary hydraulic;\n> \n> > \\*(f) other (specify)\n\n> 5. Length of experience:\n> \n> > \\*(a) as a licensed driller: years.\n> \n> > \\*(b) as an employee of a licensed driller: years.\n\n> 6. Number of sub-artesian stock bores:\n> \n> > \\*(a) constructed by me as a licensed driller:\n> \n> > \\*(b) on which I have worked as an employee of a licensed driller:\n\n> 7. Number of screened and developed irrigation industrial supply or town-water supply bores:\n> \n> > \\*(a) constructed by me as a licensed driller:\n> \n> > \\*(b) on which I have worked as an employee of a licensed driller:\n\n> 8. Number of artesian bores:\n> \n> > \\*(a) constructed by me as a licensed driller:\n> \n> > \\*(b) on which I have worked as an employee of a licensed driller:\n\n> 9. Number of bores:\n> \n> > \\*(a) pressure-cemented by me as a licensed driller:\n> \n> > \\*(b) pressure-cemented by me as an employee of a licensed driller:\n\n> 10. The depth and location of:\n> \n> > \\*(a) deepest bore sunk by me as a licensed driller:\n> \n> > \\*(b) deepest bore on which I have worked as an employee of a licensed driller:\n\n> 11. The make, type and capacity of plant now being operated by me are:\n\n> 12. Description of drilling plants previously operated by me:\n\n> 13. Names and addresses of drillers and/or drilling contractors for whom I have worked as a driller:\n> \n> Note.\n> \n> Copies of testimonials or references from employers should be attached.)\n\n> 14. Other information relevant to this application:\n\n\\**Strike out if inapplicable*.\n\nForm 2\n\n(Clause 6)\n\nDRILLER’S LICENCE No.\n\n(Section 118A, [Water Act 1912](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1912-044))\n\n.............................. of. ............................................................\n\n| (name) | (address) |\n\nis licensed for a period of 3 years from the date of this licence to carry out work as a driller under section 118A of the [Water Act 1912](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1912-044).\n\nClass .................... licence.\n\nThis licence is limited to the following drilling methods:  \n............................................................  \n............................................................  \n............................................................\n\nDated: ....................\n\nSigned ....................  \n(For and on behalf of the Water  \nAdministration Ministerial Corporation)","sortOrder":7}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available information, there is no evidence that the scope of this regulation has changed from its original intent. It has remained unamended since its commencement on 1 September 1995, suggesting it continues to operate as originally designed to regulate drillers' licences under Part 5 of the relevant Water Act."},"complexity_factors":["The actual legislative content of the regulation was not included in the provided material — only website metadata and navigation elements were present","What little content exists relates to a narrow, technical subject area (water drilling licensing) which is typically straightforward in regulatory terms","The regulation has never been amended since 1995, suggesting it is not a complex or contested instrument","As subordinate legislation (a regulation rather than an Act), it would derive its authority and complexity from its parent Water Act rather than standing alone"],"plain_english_summary":"This NSW regulation (in force since 1 Sept 1995 and never amended) governs licensing of water-bore drillers under the Water Act. It affects professional drillers, landowners seeking bores, and water regulators by setting legal requirements for who may drill and how drilling should be carried out. It matters because licencing helps protect shared groundwater from misuse or contamination."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Section 7(1) repeals the 1990 Drillers’ Licences Regulation but s 7(2) saves prior acts, so the instrument appears to restate and consolidate regulatory details (licence classes, methods, forms, fee) rather than expand statutory scope. The text itself does not introduce new categories beyond those prescribed here."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference to the Water Act 1912 for statutory authority (s 3(1))","Six licence classes with technical distinctions between bore types and completion methods (s 4(1))","Option to restrict licences to specified drilling methods adds combinatorial variety (s 4(2))","Prescribed application and licence forms with detailed applicant information requirements (Schedule 1 Forms 1–2; ss 5–6)","Fixed application fee and a refund rule create an administrative cost and process (s 5)","Repeal of the 1990 regulation together with a savings provision preserves continuity but requires checking prior instruments (s 7)","Technical hydrogeological terminology (e.g. sub‑artesian, Great Artesian Basin) increases interpretive/detail burden for non‑specialists"],"plain_english_summary":"Prescribes six classes of drillers’ licences and allowable drilling methods, sets the required application and licence forms (Forms 1 and 2), fixes the application fee at $44, and repeals the 1990 regulation. It commenced on 1 September 1995.\n\nIt affects individuals and businesses who drill groundwater bores and the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation, which processes applications, issues licences and refunds fees when no licence is not issued. It matters because it allocates legal permission by licence class and creates a modest compliance cost and administrative discretion."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of establishing a drillers' licensing system under Part 5 of the Water Act 1912. The six licence classes and procedural requirements align with the parent Act's framework for regulating water bore construction."},"complexity_factors":["Only 1 defined term ('the Act') in the interpretation section","No nested exceptions or conditional logic chains","Straightforward 6-tier classification system with cumulative permissions (each higher class includes lower class activities)","Simple procedural provisions (application form, fee, licence form)","Single cross-reference to parent Act (Water Act 1912)","Includes practical forms in Schedule 1 which add length but not legal complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation sets up a licensing system for people who drill water bores (wells) in New South Wales. It creates six different licence classes based on what type of drilling someone is qualified to do—from simple monitoring bores (Class 1) up to complex artesian bores that tap into the Great Artesian Basin (Class 5 and 6). The regulation also specifies the application form, the $44 fee, and what the actual licence document looks like. It replaced an earlier 1990 regulation and ensures any valid licences or actions under the old rules remain valid under the new ones."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/water-part-5-drillers-licences-regulation-1995","history":"/api/acts/water-part-5-drillers-licences-regulation-1995/history","analysis":"/api/acts/water-part-5-drillers-licences-regulation-1995/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/water-part-5-drillers-licences-regulation-1995/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/water-part-5-drillers-licences-regulation-1995/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/water-part-5-drillers-licences-regulation-1995/documents"}}