Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2015

Overview

This bill undoes several water law changes that the previous government passed in 2014 but which had not yet taken effect. It puts ecologically sustainable development principles back into the purpose of the Water Act 2000, removes 'water development options' that would have given large infrastructure proponents an early exclusive claim over water, and removes the ability to declare 'designated watercourses' where a water licence would not be needed. It also fixes a 2005 technical mistake in setting up the Lower Herbert Water Management Authority and confirms that existing river improvement trusts continue to operate.

Who it affects

Farmers, irrigators, mining and petroleum companies, water infrastructure developers, environmental groups and communities in the Great Barrier Reef catchment and the Lower Herbert region around Ingham are most directly affected, as are members of Queensland's river improvement trusts.

Key changes

• Ecologically sustainable development principles are restored to the purpose of the Water Act 2000, and 'responsible and productive management' is replaced with 'sustainable management' throughout
• The 'water development option' scheme is scrapped, so proponents of large water projects can no longer lock in exclusive early access to water without public consultation
• The ability to declare 'designated watercourses' where water can be taken without a licence is removed
• The 2005 amalgamation of four north Queensland drainage boards into the Lower Herbert Water Management Authority is validated, along with all the Authority's actions since then
• For underground water cumulative management areas that straddle a mining or gas tenure, the chief executive can now decide whether the tenure, or only part of it, is inside the area
• Existing river improvement trusts and ministerial appointments to them are confirmed as continuing from 19 December 2014