WHO CAN BUY ROCKET MOTORS?

There are typically two authorities that control rocketry activities in Australia. Both have rules that must be adhered to when using model rockets in Australia.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) manages air space (Please see: Where Can I Launch Model Rockets? - Based on the official guide from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)).

Explosives laws throughout Australia are currently legislated at a state level. Below is some guidelines of the legal requirements in each state for the possession, use, transport and storage of rocket motors and accessories.

Queensland

Regulator - Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM)

Consumers can purchase, transport, store and use model rocket motors up to and including 62.5grams of propellant (Net Explosives Quantity (NEQ)) without requiring any permits/licenses. This is generally 'G' size and below motors, although some G motors do exceed this limit.

Consumers wishing to fly high power motors, must join a recognised club and obtain a rocketry based explosives license. To obtain a license, you must first certify to a suitable high power level. Upon confirmation of successful certification, an application can be applied for through the DNRM. Queensland rocketry licenses are based on the Tripoli Rocketry Association high power tier levels and stipulate the applicable level of the individual user.

New South Wales

Regulator - Workcover NSW

Consumers can purchase, transport, store and use model rocket motors up to and including 62.5grams of propellant (Net Explosives Quantity (NEQ)) without requiring any permits/licenses. There is however a limit of 15grams NEQ per rocket motor for consumers who are not a member of a recognised model rocket club.

Consumers wishing to use rocket motors exceeding 62.5grams NEQ are required to be a member of a recognised rocketry club and need to apply for a Pyrotechnicnicians license endorsed to use rocket motors over 62.5grams NEQ.

Australian Capital Territory

Regulator - Worksafe ACT

Whilst there are provisions for using model rocket motors in ACT, there are currently NO authorised rocket motors and therefore all model rocket motors in ACT are illegal.

Victoria

Regulator - Worksafe Victoria

TBA

South Australia

Regulator - Safework SA

A 'Permit to Purchase' is required to possess, transport and use rocket motors in South Australia. These are generally issued to associations, however Individuals can also apply for a permit to use motors up to 25grams NEQ. Less than 3kg NEQ of rocket motors does not require a storage permit. Permits to Purchase stipulate the type and size of rocket motors permitted to that user/group. Any single shipment or possession of a quantity of motors exceeding 3kg NEQ, requires an import notification and storage permit.

** South Australia do not follow the standard United Nations classifications and have classed most rocket motors as 'Fireworks - 1.4G - UN0431'. Whilst this is in contradiction to all international standards, Australian Rocketry Pty Ltd has the necessary systems in place to ship authorised rocket motors which comply with South Australian rules.

Tasmania

Regulator - Workplace Standards Tasmania (WST)

TBA

Western Australia

Regulator - Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP)

Consumers can purchase, transport, store and use model rocket motors up to and including 62.5grams of propellant (NEQ) without requiring any permits/licenses. This is generally 'G' size and below motors, although some G motors do exceed this limit.

Consumers wishing to use rocket motors between 62.5grams NEQ and 325grams NEQ are required to be a member of a recognised rocketry club and need to apply for a Pyrotechnics Special Use License (PSUL). A holder of a PSUL is permitted to store 15kg or rocket motors classed as 1.3 and 30kg of rocket motors classed as 1.4.

Consumers wishing to use rocket motors greater than 325grams NEQ require an additional permit from DMP.

All rocket motors in WA are classified as 1.3C UN0186.

Northern Territory

Regulator - NT Worksafe

Consumers can purchase, transport, store and use model rocket motors up to and including 20grams NEQ.

 

Before purchasing rocket motors, please make sure you are compliant in your state.

* The information listed above is considered to be correct as at 20/12/2012. This information is only a guideline and independant advice on your local legislation should be sought.