Tasmanian Driller's Licence

Under the Water Management Act 1999 well drillers are required to hold a Tasmanian Well Driller's Licence before they perform well works. This brings Tasmania into line with all other states where drillers are licenced. Licences are issued for five years and are non-transferable.

Well Works: means an excavation undertaken to give access to groundwater, any other works undertaken to repair of modify the structure of a well or any works undertaken to plug, backfill, seal or decommission a well.

Three classes of licences are available through the Tasmanian well driller's licencing system;

Class 1: restricted to drilling operations in single non-flowing aquifer systems

Class 2: in addition to operating in Class 1 conditions, the holder can carry out drilling activities in single and multiple non-flowing aquifer systems

Class 3: in addition to operating in Class 1 and Class 2 conditions, authorises the holder to carry out drilling activities in non-flowing and flowing aquifer systems.

An application can be made for a new licence, conversion of an interstate licence, a licence class upgrade, additional endorsements or amendment. No application is required for licence renewal and minor variations to a licence (e.g. change of personal details) can be made at any stage.

Automatic Mutual Recognition

Under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992 (Cwlth), Well Driller licence holders can now be recognised through the Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) scheme between participating jurisdictions.
This means you may be automatically 'deemed to be registered' in Tasmania to carry on the activities covered by your interstate licence, without further assessment of your suitability, or the payment of fees, provided you:

Hold a licence in another state or territory who is also participating in the AMR scheme; and
Meet the requirements for Automatic Deemed Registration; and
Notify the Tasmanian Local Registration Authority of your intention to carry on the authorised activity.

Tasmania is currently automatically recognising the activities covered by an occupational licence for a Well Driller from jurisdictions who are participating in AMR.
To be automatically recognised you will need to notify NRE Tasmania of your intention to have your interstate Well Driller’s Licence recognised. See AMR notification in approved forms web page.

If you do not satisfy these requirements, you will need to apply to the Water Management and Assessment Branch within the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania for a
Tasmanian Well Driller’s Licence under the Water Management Act 1999.

Applying for a Tasmanian Well Driller's Licence

Complete a current Well Driller's Licence application and pay the appropriate fee
Contact NRE Tasmania to obtain a well driller's licence kit
Lodge the application including all required additional information included in the kit