ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1994 - SECT 126A Requirements for site-specific applications—particular resource projects and resource activities

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1994 - SECT 126A

126A Requirements for site-specific applications—particular resource projects and resource activities

(1) This section applies to a site-specific application, involving the exercise of underground water rights, for—

(a) a resource project that includes a resource tenure that is a mineral development licence, mining lease or petroleum lease; or

(b) a resource activity for which the relevant tenure is a mineral development licence, mining lease or petroleum lease.

(2) The application must also state the following—

(a) any proposed exercise of underground water rights during the period in which resource activities will be carried out under the relevant tenure;

(b) the areas in which underground water rights are proposed to be exercised;

(c) for each aquifer affected, or likely to be affected, by the exercise of underground water rights—

(i) a description of the aquifer; and

(ii) an analysis of the movement of underground water to and from the aquifer, including how the aquifer interacts with other aquifers and surface water; and

(iii) a description of the area of the aquifer where the water level is predicted to decline because of the exercise of underground water rights; and

(iv) the predicted quantities of water to be taken or interfered with because of the exercise of underground water rights during the period in which resource activities are carried out;

(d) the environmental values that will, or may, be affected by the exercise of underground water rights and the nature and extent of the impacts on the environmental values;

(e) any impacts on the quality of groundwater that will, or may, happen because of the exercise of underground water rights during or after the period in which resource activities are carried out;

(f) strategies for avoiding, mitigating or managing the predicted impacts on the environmental values stated for paragraph (d) or the impacts on the quality of groundwater mentioned in paragraph (e) .