WHAT ARE GENERAL AUTHORISATIONS?

General Authorisations allow the Department to authorise large numbers of people to take up water without the need for a licence. People taking up water under a general authorization may need to register their water use. This general authorisation can be limited to a specific group of people, and/or specific water resources. This has several advantages namely

1. Smaller scale emerging users would not need to be ready to apply for a licence.
2. General authorisations can be adapted for specific regional and social needs.
3. General authorisations can promote the uptake of smaller amounts of water by many people - and hence can have a greater impact on poverty.
4. They can reduce the administrative burden.
5. They can allow for the gradual uptake of water by the poor, paralleled with the gradual reduction of use by existing lawful water users.

General authorisations will therefore be used to support the Water Allocation Reform process, both within compulsory licensing and in other areas, to make it easier for the rural poor to take up water. You should contact your regional office to see if your intended water use is covered by a general authorization.