Flood Damage and Creek Crossings – Do You Need a Licence to Repair?

After recent flooding across the region, many landholders are facing damaged or washed-out creek crossings—and the question we’re hearing most is: “Do I need a licence to repair it?”

We reached out to Craig Pullman, Senior Landscape Extension Officer at Local Land Services, for clarity.

The good news is that you might not need a licence. In many cases, repairs to an existing, previously approved crossing may be exempt from requiring a Controlled Activity Approval. To find out if your repair work qualifies for an exemption, simply complete the online questionnaire provided by NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). Once completed, you’ll be able to print and keep a copy of your exemption for your records.

👉 Check your exemption status here:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=IYjvljkqHEe4mmewgz3TuaJ8VvZiyYZKiR3x1NniFCZUQ0lWTUZRUVpWMFhHTlBEM05aNFVOVlFSOC4u

If your work doesn’t fall under the exemption category, you’ll need to apply for a Controlled Activity Approval through NSW DPIE Water. Full information, including guidelines and how to apply, is available at:
https://water.dpie.nsw.gov.au/our-work/licensing-and-approvals/controlled-activity-approvals/controlled-activity-exemptions

As always, we encourage landholders to double-check before starting any repair work in or near waterways. If you're unsure, reach out to Local Land Services or our team at TRLA for support.