Licensing

Irrigation Installation Licensing

Licensing for the installation of irrigation is handled by State Governments. There is currently no standardisation across borders. IAL is aware of problems regarding  irrigation specific licensing in Victoria.

An Intergovernmental Agreement for a National Licensing System for Specified Occupations was agreed to on 30 April 2009 by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).  On 10 July 2009 IAL received a letter from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet seeking a nomination to the Iterim Advisory Committee.  Information can be obtained from the national licensing website www.govdex.gov.au

Disclaimer: The information provided below has been compiled by IAL and indicates available knowledge at the time of writing gained from State Government websites. IAL does not warrant this information to be correct. Before embarking on training, or making an application for licensing, members are urged to consult with the relevant state government department.

NSW

The Office of Fair Trading oversees licensing in NSW.  After years of hard work by the IAL team finally, on 13 May 2009, the Minister signed the Home Building Regulation Clause 28 that includes the requirements for Water Plumbing Urban Irrigation - license or certificate. 

One of the alternatives for the new requirements for licensing in NSW is:

Certificate III in Irrigation RTE31303 (including the following units of competency either BSC3050A connect irrigation system from drinkable water (potable) or BCPWT3007A/CPCPWT3007A Connect irrigation system to potable water supply, RTE3601A Install irrigation systems, RTE3605A Troubleshoot irrigation systems) and two years relevant industry experience. 

To read the entire clause (Item 9) click here.  The NSW Code of Practise - Plumbing and Drainage can be accessed by clicking here. 

Queensland

In Queensland licensing for the installation of irrigation is a two-step process.  The license is issued by the Builders Services Authority. Information on the licence can be found here.

New information received 1 June 2009.

The Queensland Building Services Authority Regulation 2003 has been amended, effective from 29 May 2009.

The Irrigation licence class has been amended to include another option in terms of the required technical qualification, being a RTE31303 Certificate III in Irrigation.
 
The scope of work has been modified so it is clear that if you don’t hold an occupational licence, you can’t undertake regulated plumbing work.  The new clause which has been added to the regulation, below.
 
4) However, the scope of work does not include personally carrying out any building work for which an occupational licence is required, unless the licensee holds an occupational licence.
Example—
The installation, testing or commissioning of a non-return valve to a potable water supply can not be carried out unless the licensee holds an occupational licence authorising the holder of the licence to carry out the work.’.
 
The BSA website and other information will be amended in due course and the Area Offices in the regional areas have been advised of the change.

Victoria

The Plumbing Industry Commission oversees licensing in Victoria. 

The new Plumbing Regulations came into force in November 2008.  There is a new plumbing class Irrigation (Non-agricultural) which is defined as:  the construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of any part of irrigation system on a property from the connection point to any water supply in the system to the last valve or control to any pressurised zone in the system and includes any design work that is incidental to, or associated with, any work described above.  Irrigation (Non-agricultural) work does not include the design, construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of an irrigation system used for the purposes of agriculture.

 To be eligible for Registration and/or Licence in this class you are required to have a minimum of 2 years substantiated practical experience and hold the Certificate II in Urban Irrigation from the Plumbing Training Package.  You must substantiate the experience before your application will be accepted and before you can proceed to any examinations.

If the Commission approves your application you will be required to undertake a practical and theory assessment before you can gain Registration or Licence.

 The regulations can be downloaded from the right hand side of the PIC webpage.

IAL is currently unaware of any training organisation in any State offering the Certificate II in Urban Irrigation.

If you are unhappy with this situation we urge you to write to your local Victorian member of parliament.