Licence review and amendment

Water abstraction licences are issued for an unspecified duration and remain valid until the licence is reviewed, amended, revoked, suspended, or surrendered. This section of the website covers reviews and amendments.

Licence reviews by the licensee

The licensee can apply to the EPA for a review of their licence or for a review of the conditions attached to a licence.

See How to apply for a water abstraction licence.

Licence review by the EPA

The EPA may carry out a review of a licence and amend the conditions attached to a licence under prescribed circumstances. The EPA will issue a notice to the licensee of its proposal to review.

Licence amendments

The EPA may amend a licence or a revised licence for the purposes of:

1. correcting any clerical error therein,
2. facilitating the doing of anything pursuant to a condition attached to the licence where the doing of that thing may reasonably be regarded as having been contemplated by the terms of the condition or the terms of the licence taken as a whole but which was not expressly provided for in the condition, or
3. otherwise facilitating the operation of the licence, where the making of the amendment does not result in the requirements of Part 5 of the Act ceasing to be satisfied.

The EPA shall, where appropriate, consult with the licensee before amending a licence.