NSWIn ForceAct
Water Management Act 2000
60IAccess licence required for water used in mining activities
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 60I
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Water Management Act 2000.
#### 60I Access licence required for water used in mining activities
60I Access licence required for water used in mining activities
> > (1) A person who takes water in the course of carrying out a mining activity is, for the purposes of this Act, taking water from a water source.
>
> > (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), a person takes water in the course of carrying out a mining activity if, as a result of or in connection with, the activity or a past mining activity carried out by the person, water is removed or diverted from a water source (whether or not water is returned to the water source) or water is re-located from one part of an aquifer to another part of an aquifer.
>
> > (3) To avoid doubt, a person who takes water in the course of carrying out a mining activity as referred to in subsection (2) is required to hold an access licence authorising the taking of the water.
>
> > (4) In this section—
> >
> > mineral has the same meaning as it has in the [Mining Act 1992](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1992-029).
> >
> > mineral exploration means prospecting pursuant to an assessment lease, exploration licence, mineral claim, mining lease or opal prospecting licence under the [Mining Act 1992](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1992-029).
> >
> > mining means the winning or removal of materials by methods such as excavating, dredging, drilling or tunnelling for the purpose of obtaining minerals or petroleum, and includes—
> >
> > > (a) the construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of associated works, and
> >
> > > (b) the stockpiling, processing, treatment and transportation of materials extracted, and
> >
> > > (c) the rehabilitation of land affected by mining.
> >
> > mining activity means any of the following—
> >
> > > (a) mining,
> >
> > > (b) mineral exploration,
> >
> > > (c) petroleum exploration.
> >
> > petroleum has the same meaning as it has in the [Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1991-084).
> >
> > petroleum exploration means prospecting pursuant to a petroleum title under the [Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1991-084).
>
> > (5) This section does not limit any other provision of this Act.
>
> **s 60I:** Ins 2010 No 133, Sch 2 \[16\]. Am 2025 No 70, Sch 3\[2\].