WATER MANAGEMENT ACT 2000 - SECT 7
Classification of water sources
WATER MANAGEMENT ACT 2000 - SECT 7
Classification of water sources
7 Classification of water sources
(1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, classify water
sources for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Such an order may only be made with
the concurrence of the Minister for the Environment.
(3) Water sources are to
be classified as follows--
(a) as to the extent to which they are at risk
(that is, the extent to which harm to the water source or its dependent
ecosystems is likely to occur),
(b) as to the extent to which they are
subject to stress (that is, the extent to which harm to the water source or
its dependent ecosystems has occurred or is occurring),
(c) as to the extent
of their conservation value (that is, the extent to which their intrinsic
value merits protection from risk and stress).
(4) It is the intention of
Parliament that, within 12 months after the date of assent to this Act--
(a)
the water sources of the State be classified in accordance with this section,
and
(b) bulk access regimes be established for such of those water sources as
are classified high risk, high stress or high conservation value.
(5) A bulk
access regime referred to in subsection (4) (b) is to be established by means
of a Minister's plan made, in the case of a water source that is within a
water management area for which a management committee has been established,
in consultation with that committee.
(6) A bulk access regime referred to in
subsection (4) (b) has effect for 10 years from the date on which it is
established, but may be varied under section 45 as if it had been established
by a management plan, in which case section 87 applies accordingly.
(7) The
regulations may prescribe rules in accordance with which water sources are to
be classified for the purposes of this Act.