WATER ACT 2000 - SECT 2
Purposes of Act and their achievement
WATER ACT 2000 - SECT 2
Purposes of Act and their achievement
2 Purposes of Act and their achievement
(1) The main purposes of this Act are to provide a framework for the
following—
(a) the sustainable management of Queensland’s water resources
and quarry material by establishing a system for—
(i) the planning,
allocation and use of water; and
(ii) the allocation of quarry material and
riverine protection;
(b) the sustainable and secure water supply and demand
management for the south-east Queensland region and other designated regions;
(c) the management of impacts on underground water caused by the exercise of
underground water rights by the resource sector;
(d) the effective operation
of water authorities.
(2) For subsection (1) (a) ,
"sustainable management" is management that—
(a) incorporates the principles
of ecologically sustainable development; and
(b) allows for the allocation
and use of water resources and quarry material for the economic, physical and
social wellbeing of the people of Queensland, within limits that can be
sustained indefinitely; and
(c) sustains the health of ecosystems, water
quality, water-dependent ecological processes and biological diversity
associated with watercourses, lakes, springs, aquifers and other natural water
systems, including, where practicable, reversing degradation that has
occurred; and
(d) recognises the interests of Aboriginal people and Torres
Strait Islanders and their connection with water resources; and
(e) enables
water resources and quarry material to be obtained through fair, transparent
and orderly processes to support the economic development of Queensland; and
(f) builds confidence regarding the availability, security and value of water
entitlements and other authorisations; and
(g) promotes the efficient use of
water through—
(i) the establishment and operation of water markets; or
(ii) the initial allocation of water; or
(iii) the regulation of water use if
there is a risk of land or water degradation; or
(iv) increasing community
understanding of the need to use and manage water in a sustainable way; and
(h) facilitates the community taking an active part in planning for the
management and allocation of water.
(3) For subsection (2) (g) , the
"efficient use of water" —
(a) incorporates water demand management and
water conservation measures; or
(b) considers the volume and quality of water
required for particular circumstances, including release into the environment.