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Drillers Newsletter

Tuesday 20 January, 2026

What has been happening

Over the past year, we’ve continued to see strong demand for bore construction across the Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) region, resulting in a significant number of applications and ongoing engagement with drillers and landowners.

This newsletter provides an update on recent activity, reminders about key licence requirements, and links to useful resources.

This increased activity is reflected in the number of bore construction licence applications received:

480
Domestic & Stock (including Water Register applications)

24
Investigation

288
Observation

12
Irrigation

4
Industrial/commercial

1
Underground disposal

1
Geothermal

Reviews of Groundwater Management Plans

GMW is actively working towards the review and development of a number of groundwater management plans.

The development of these new plans will involve the establishment of a reference committee and representation will be sought from a range of related stakeholders.

REVIEW THE EXISTING MANAGEMENT PLANS

Bore Completion Reports (BCR)

Please ensure you complete and return a Bore Completion Report (BCR) for all bores that you construct or decommission within 28 days of the works being completed. Please note this is an important condition on the Bore Construction Licence. The speed at which the BCR is returned to GMW influences the timing of the issuing of subsequent approvals.

When completing a BCR the following information must be completed:

Works licence number
GPS co-ordinates
Site address (this is the property address where the bore is located, not the postal address of the bore owner).
All bore construction details – including depths of seals, screens, grout, water quality, yield and backfill.

Once you have completed the BCR, please forward the BCR to GMW via post or email the report to licensingadmin@gmwater.com.au We can then finalise the application.

If the bore has been drilled for licensable purposes further requirements will be required from the customer.

Please ensure you send the paperwork to the correct water authority. If you are unsure, please phone the Customer Experience Team on 1800 013 357 for advice.

Drillers' Licence Board

If any of your personal details have changed, please contact the Victorian Drillers’ Licensing Board on (03) 5139 3100 or 1300 139 510 to update these. This will assist us when making contact with you if required.

Investigation Bores

Drillers are reminded that a condition on a Bore Construction Licence (BCL) for investigative purposes is that the bore needs to be decommissioned in accordance with the Minimum Construction Standards for Water Bores in Australia Fourth Eddition before the drilling rig leaves the property.

We have been made aware of a small number of cases where the investigation bores have been left open after the drilling rigs have left. While we understand in some instances the investigation bores will be drilled out under a separate BCL for Licensable Purposes; this must be done under the appropriate authorisation.

REQUEST A COPY OF THE RECENTLY UPDATED STANDARDS

Online applications for Domestic and Stock bores

If one of your customers wants to construct a bore to use solely for Domestic and Stock water supply, or for investigation or monitoring purposes please note the following.

Upon application, the licence will usually be sent to the nominated email address within 15 minutes. The cost for this application is $248.50.

It is a requirement that you sight the Works Licence prior to drilling.

Please note there has been an increase in the number of landowners who are applying online for Domestic and Stock, Investigation or Observation bores with the intent to use the bore for a licensable purpose. This may have significant financial consequences for the customer, and also could lead to the refusal of any Take and Use Licence application as the appropriate assessment has not been undertaken at the drilling stage. GMW has raised its concern with this practice with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action through the Statewide Licensing Committee.

Works licences for bores that are to be used for irrigation or any other licensable purpose are only available by applying directly to GMW. This enables GMW to let customers know about potential risks and opportunities associated with obtaining a groundwater extraction licence.

Customers should phone the GMW Licensing Team on 1800 013 357 to begin this process

APPLY FOR A LICENCE