VPRS 14970 Water-Right Licence Plans

This series consists of water rights licence plans created and maintained by the Mines Department (VA 612) to accurately record the locations of the water rights licences.Under the Mining Leases Act 1862 (25 Vic.,No.148) the Governor and the Board of Land and Works were empowered to grant water-right licences which would authorise the holder of the licence to cut, construct and use races dams and reservoirs through and upon any Crown lands and take or divert water from any spring lake pool or stream situated or flowing upon or bounded by any such Crown lands. Regulations were to be made by the Governor-in-Council as to the amount of rent, the quantity of land, the mode of application etc. The first Order-in-Council, made on 22 December 1862 and published in the Government Gazette 9 January 1863, applied to the use of water for gold mining purposes only. A second Order-in-Council, made on 21 November 1864 and published in the Government Gazette 2 December 1864, applied to the use of water for mining purposes other than gold mining. Applications for water-right licences under these regulations were to be forwarded through the Commissioners of Crown Lands to the Minister in charge of mining interests.These regulations were rescinded by an Order-in-Council made on 19 March 1866 (published in Government Gazette 23 March 1866) under the Mining Statute 1865. The new regulations applied to the use of water for any mining activity (gold or mineral). Under these regulations applications for water-right licences were to be forwarded to the Minister of Mines via the district Mining Wardens.Related RecordsWater-rights were also obtainable as a claim under a Miners Right. Such claims were registered with the district Mining Registrars (see Registers of Claims and Registers of Water-rights listed under Mining Districts). Further research is required to determine the differences between these two types of water-rights.Water-rights were also recorded on some Locality Plans (see VPRS 14969 Locality Plans [and Lease Plans].