State waives fees for some domestic bore users

The State Government will waive annual water licence fees for some domestic bore users who draw less than 1,501 kilolitres per year, after announcing their implementation for July 1 this year.

Water Resources Minister John Kobelke said in an announcement the majority of domestic bores and farm dams did not require a licence or need to pay fees.

"Discussions with the community have pointed out this was unfair with some 2,700 domestic water users being asked to pay $200 a year because of where they lived," he said.

Mr Kobelke said people in Albany and Exmouth with bores tapping into the water table aquifer, and those in the Serpentine-Oakford area and around Donnybrook and Bunbury who drew from an artesian aquifer, were being asked to pay a fee even if they used the water just for domestic purposes.

The full text of an announcement from the Minister's office is pasted below

Annual water licence fees for more than 2,700 existing domestic bores will be waived under changes to the water licence fee structure announced by Water Resources Minister John Kobelke.

He said the changes would provide relief to small-scale domestic bore owners who had previously been expecting to pay a $200 annual licence fee each year.

"The changes will mean that domestic and farm bore users who draw less than 1,501 kilolitres of water a year will now not have to pay the annual licence fees," Mr Kobelke said.

"Under the previous arrangements all holders of water licences were being asked to pay an annual licence fee beginning July 1 this year.

"The fees are designed to cover the administration costs associated with the need to licence water extraction. Licensing ensures water is sustainably managed and allocated in a fair way.

"It was never the intention of the Government to charge small domestic water users a fee or to cause hardship to retirees, hobby farmers and other life stylers.

"The fee scale will now start at 1,501kl a year. This is sufficient water for a 0.2 hectare garden, normal household use and for watering a small number of animals.

"The majority of our 150,000 domestic bores and more than 20,000 farm dams across the State do not require a licence and are not required to pay any fees.

"Discussions with the community have pointed out this was unfair with some 2,700 domestic water users being asked to pay $200 a year because of where they lived."

Mr Kobelke said people in Albany and Exmouth with bores tapping into the water table aquifer, and those in the Serpentine-Oakford area and around Donnybrook and Bunbury who drew from an artesian aquifer, were being asked to pay a fee even if they used the water just for domestic purposes.

Licences will still be required for water drawn from an artesian aquifer or for water table aquifers in areas such as Albany or Exmouth where there is a danger that overuse may cause saltwater intrusion.

Annual fees will only be charged when 1,501kl or more is required and new licences issued after July 1 this year will pay a one off application fee of $200.