NSW Water says it’s called an Aboriginal cultural water-specific purpose access licence.
The water can be used for a variety of things, including drinking, food preparation, manufacturing traditional artefacts, watering domestic gardens or bush medicine.
The licence is free, but there are costs if a pump or bore is required to take the water.
In NSW, Aboriginal peoples can access water through an Aboriginal cultural water specific purpose access licence (SPAL). This licence supports caring for Country, community and maintaining cultural practices and customs.
NSW Water says an Aboriginal cultural SPAL is for the take of water primarily for cultural purposes.
“Commercial benefit is allowed if it is secondary or incidental to the cultural purpose. The cultural purpose must always be the primary reason for taking and using the water.”
Sources of Aboriginal cultural water can include:
- surface water including streams, creeks, rivers, billabongs, wetlands or waterholes
- groundwater
Purposes that Aboriginal cultural water can be used for once it is taken from a water source:
- drinking and food preparation
- washing
- manufacturing traditional artefacts
- watering domestic gardens
- cultural teaching
- hunting, fishing and gathering
- traditional food and bush medicine production
- purposes to achieve environmental outcomes
- recreational, cultural and ceremonial purposes
There is no limit to the number of special purpose licences a person can apply for.
However, the number of licences that can be granted in a water source depends on availability and the rules in the relevant water sharing plan.
NSW Water says measures are in place to make sure enough water remains for critical human, animal and the environmental needs.
