Queensland Consolidated Acts Queensland Consolidated Acts(1) The Minister may prepare a water resource plan for any part of Queensland to advance the sustainable management of water.
(2) Subject to subsection (6), only 1 water resource plan may have effect for the part at any time.
(3) The plan may be prepared for, but is not limited to, the following purposes--
(a) to define the availability of water for any purpose;
(b) to provide a framework for sustainably managing water and the taking of water;
(c) to identify priorities and mechanisms for dealing with future water requirements;
(d) to provide a framework for establishing water allocations;
(e) to provide a framework for reversing, where practicable, degradation that has occurred in natural ecosystems, including, for example, stressed rivers.
(4) The plan must also regulate the taking of overland flow water if the Minister is satisfied that--
(a) if there is an existing water resource plan--there is a risk that taking overland flow water in the area may significantly impact on the plan's outcomes; or
(b) there is a risk that taking overland flow water in the area may significantly affect--
(i) the availability of water for existing water entitlement holders; or
(ii) the water requirements of natural ecosystems; or
(iii) beneficial flooding; or
(c) changes in land use activities or intensification of land use in the area are significantly affecting overland flow water; or
(d) there is a risk that proposed changes in land use activities in the area are likely to significantly affect overland flow water.
(5) The plan must also regulate the taking of subartesian water if the Minister is satisfied that--
(a) if there is an existing water resource plan--there is a risk that taking, or interfering with, subartesian water in the area may significantly impact on the plan's outcomes; or
(b) there is a risk that taking, or interfering with, subartesian water in the area may significantly affect--
(i) the availability of water for existing water entitlement holders; or
(ii) the water requirements of natural ecosystems; or
(iii) the quality of water.
(6) Two plans may have effect for the same part of Queensland at the same time if--
(a) one of the plans applies to--
(i) artesian water; and
(ii) subartesian water connected to the artesian water; and
(iii) water in springs connected to the artesian water; and
(b) the other plan does not apply to water mentioned in paragraph (a).