3 December, 2025
There is only a week left for Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) to register their interest for access to the 26,000 water shares that have been made available to Aboriginal entities in NSW.
Under the NSW inaugural Aboriginal Water Strategy, LALCs can now register their interest to have water access licences for regulated rivers, unregulated rivers and groundwater sources transferred from the Minister for Water. These licences can be used for commercial purposes that support economic benefit, as well as for cultural and environmental purposes.
While some LALCs have registered their interest and attended webinars hosted by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), NSWALC is encouraging more LALCs to review the eligibility criteria and apply for water transfers.
Pre-recorded webinars for any LALCs who were unable to attend the information sessions are available to view here, and LALCs can also book a time to chat with NSW DCCEEW about the registrations of interest (ROI) at any time.
Registrations for a call with NSW DCCEEW are available at the link here or by contacting NSW DCCEEW directly.
NSW DCCEEW can be contacted at:
- Phone:Â 1300 081 047
- Email:Â enquiries@dcceew.nsw.gov.au
The ROI process closes at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.
NSWALC has long advocated that water and sea rights are integral to healthy Cultures and Country. The NSW Government’s water licence transfer program is another step towards supporting NSWALC’s strategic goal of securing land and water rights on Country and creating a successful Land Rights system.
A feedback survey is available on the ROI webpage. Your feedback will help NSW DCCEEW to design future water opportunities to meet Aboriginal peoples’ needs.Â