Australian Water Management Review Vol. 1 2014 | Page 160

How do I
access water
for mining
operations?
highly traded in the Murray Darling System. Water
rights in groundwater regions can be very tightly
held, and may require customised strategies to
acquire water rights to suit mining operations.
How can Waterfind help?
Mining companies contemplating water purchases
or maximising income from surplus water assets
can access professional assistance.
Finding, purchasing and selling water can be a very
complex process. By using Waterfind, mining operations
can access the following benefits and services:
• knowledge and experience in the water market
industry
• anonymity of client in water negotiations
• up-to-date water market trading information
including pricing
• current market options and opportunities

A

ustralia is at the forefront of developing
market-based water trading mechanisms
as a way of improving the management
of scarce water resources. Water markets
provide a mechanism for transferring
water rights between parties and must meet the
following minimum criteria:
• the extraction points of the two parties are
hydrologically connected (water can physically
move from point A to point B)

• consulting services regarding water sourcing
options for mining operations
Australian water rights provide the holder of
entitlements with the right to a proportion of water
resources in a defined region with available volumes
announced annually. Issuing and transferring water
rights is largely governed by State legislation while
water market and trading rules are covered by the
Federal Government. Water rights holders are able to
trade both seasonal allocations (temporary, annual
water) and water entitlements (permanent water).

• administrative and legal arrangements exist for
the transfer of water rights

Trading of water rights commenced in the 1980s
across numerous states in Australia. Since that time,
trading has been seen as a key element in water
reforms in Australia.

• market-based mechanisms such as exchanges must
be cost-effectively operated to support such transfers

Water trading in surface water regions is wellestablished in NSW and some regions in QLD, and

154 | Australian water man age m e nt re v ie w

• specialist staff expertise in water regulations
• access to vFW"7F