News
24 July, 2024
Bore drill blunder
The Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (DRDMW) has fined a bore construction business operator in the Kilcoy-Esk region a total of $5,750 for unlicensed water bore drilling.
Investigators found that multiple bores were constructed by the operator without them holding a Queensland water bore driller’s licence or being under the constant physical supervision of a person who is licensed to construct bores in the state.
DRDMW Executive Director - Water Operations and Systems, Bernadette McNevin, said the compliance action comes as the department warns local property owners to engage an appropriately licensed driller to construct bores for them and ensure they meet the state’s construction standards.
“As Queensland’s water regulator, we enforce the minimum industry standards for the construction of water bores and licensed drillers are required to comply with these,” Ms McNevin said.
“Bores are costly to construct and it’s disappointing to see an unauthorised operator take payment from a local landholder to drill a bore that doesn’t comply with the requirements here in Queensland.
“I urge those seeking to have a water bore constructed on their property to save stress, time and money by employing a suitably licensed water bore driller to supervise or carry out works.”
Licensed drillers in Queensland must also submit drill logs to DRDMW detailing each drilling activity undertaken.
Bores are then registered and recorded on the department’s groundwater database.
For a landholder, this information is vital when selecting a suitable pump for the bore, as well as helping to diagnose any future problems that may occur.
Property owners can protect their interests in several ways, including:
asking operators to present a valid Queensland driller’s licence;
checking the register of licensed drillers available on the Business Queensland website;
or contacting the department directly to check whether the operator holds the appropriate licence.
Queensland’s range of requirements for bore construction and groundwater take are designed to protect the state’s precious water resources and ensure they are sustainably used into the future.
Further information regarding water bore construction, standards and approvals is available on the Business Queensland website
