INTERPRETING YOUR ANSWER
The screening tool would have plotted your application against it likely benefits to the nation, and its possible impacts, both on a 1 to 5 scale. Look to see where your application plotted.
Applications that score high with respect to benefits and low with respect to impacts can generally be processed quickly with screen level impact assessments.
Applications that score low with respect to benefits and low with respect to impacts can generally be processed quickly But the Department may want to do additional studies to see if there are any higher benefit uses fro the water. The Department may ask you to advertise your intended use. However, in these cases you may want to increase the benefits of your use by taking on historically disadvantaged people, or by equity ownership schemes. You could also go into partnership with your workers.
Applications that score high with respect to benefits and high with respect to impacts would usually need detailed impact assessment studies before they can be processed. These would typically be the larger industrial and mining developments, but could include large scale irrigation schemes where water is limiting. The Department may ask you to undertake these impact studies at your expense. You could also lower your impacts by using less water, or improving the way you manage your waste water.
Applications that score low on benefits, but high on impacts will not necessarily be turned down, but will require detailed impact assessments. In this case you could consider reducing your possible impacts and increasing the possible benefits to your water use. In cases where the impact is high because water is limiting, you may be able to buy water from another user, or support schemes like the Working for Water campaign to help find the water.
Once you have plotted your application using the tool, go back and see if you can change any of your answers by changing the nature of your application – this could make a big difference to the way your licence application is processed.