Australian Capital Territory Numbered Acts

WATER RESOURCES ACT 1998 (NO. 63 OF 1998) - SECT 39

(1)     A person shall not—

        (a)     drill or construct a bore;

        (b)     deepen or enlarge a bore;

        (c)     remove, replace, alter or repair the casing, lining or screen of a bore; or

        (d)     plug, backfill or seal off a bore;

without a driller's licence.

Penalty:

        (e)     if the offender is a natural person—50 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both;

        (f)     if the offender is a body corporate—250 penalty units.

(2)     The Authority may, on application, grant to a person a driller's licence to carry out an operation referred to in subsection (1).

(3)     An application for a driller's licence shall—

        (a)     be in a form approved by the Authority; and

        (b)     be accompanied by the determined fee.

(4)     A driller's licence may be granted subject to such conditions as are specified in the licence.

(5)     A person shall not, without reasonable excuse, contravene a condition of a driller's licence.

Penalty:

        (a)     if the offender is a natural person—50 penalty units;

        (b)     if the offender is a body corporate—250 penalty units.

(6)     A driller's licence shall be granted for such period, not exceeding 3 years, as is specified in the licence.

(7)     The Authority shall not grant a driller's licence unless satisfied that the applicant has the prescribed qualifications to hold a driller's licence.