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The information in this fact sheet is up-to-date as of January 2011.

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5.4 Water management

5.4.1 Overview

The Water Management Act 2000 controls the extraction of water, how water can be used, the construction of works such as dams and weirs, and the carrying out of activities on or near water sources in NSW.1

The Act requires approvals to be obtained for the taking and use of water, and for the construction and use of works (such as pumps, drains and pipes) relating to water use.

For information on water pollution, see Fact Sheet 4.1 on Pollution.

5.4.1.1 Useful web links

Water management in NSW is managed by the NSW Office of Water which is part of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water

Water management within the Murray-Darling Basin is managed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

The main legislation regulating water use in NSW is the Water Management Act 2000.

5.4.1.2 Useful legal texts

• Environmental & Planning Law in New South Wales, by Lyster, Lipman, Franklin, Wiffen and Pearson, The Federation Press (2007), Chapter 6, pp 234 - 278
• The Environmental Law Handbook, Farrier and Stein, eds (2006), Chapter 14, pp 516 - 542

5.4.2 Water Management Act 2000

5.4.2.1 Repeal of Water Act 1912

The Water Management Act 2000 regulates the management of water in New South Wales for the benefit of present and future generations. The Water Act 1912 now has only a limited role in regulation. It is being progressively phased out and will be repealed in its entirety once the whole of the Water Management Act 2000 becomes operational.2

Note: the Water Management Act 2000 was significantly amended by the Water Management Amendment Act 2008 , which commenced (in part) on 1 January 2009.

5.4.3 Water management plans

5.4.3.1 What must a water management plan contain?

The Water Management Act 2000 allows water management plans to be prepared.3 These are generally referred to as “water sharing plans”.

The Minister may direct that a water management plan is to be prepared on any aspect of water management including:4

• Water sharing – including the rules under which water can be taken (the rates, times and circumstances, etc ), the rules for the buying and selling of licences and for annual allocations, basic landholder rights, and the requirements for environmental water,5
• Water use – including the identification of actitivites which might cause environmental degradation, such as soil erosion, native vegetation damage and salinity,6
• Drainage management – including the identification of the hydrological regimes in the area, any existing works, and the cummulative impacts on water quality,7 and
• Floodplain protection – including the identification of natural flooding regimes (frequency, duration and extent), the ecological benefits that flooding brings (particularly to wetlands), the identification of existing flood works and any proposals to modify or remove them.8

The water management area that each water management plan applies to is established by the Minister.9 There is no requirement that water mangement areas correspond with the catchment areas established under the Catchment Management Authorities Act 2003.

Water management plans are prepared by a water management committee for a water management area or, if the water management committee fails to prepare one, by the Minister.10 Water management committees are appointed by the Minister, and each committee must develop a water management plan in accordance with the terms of reference set by the Minister.11 Importantly, the Act stipulates that a management committee must exercise its functions consistently with the principles of ecologically sustainable development.12

A water management plan must be consistent with other documents, including:13

• The State Water Management Outcomes Plan,
• Any state environmental planning policies,
• Any protection of the environment policy under the POEO Act, and
• Any State Government policy, including those relating to environmental flow and water quality objectives.

Once the management committee has prepared a draft water management plan, it must be placed on public exhibition, public submissions must be called for, and those comments must be considered.14 The plan is then submitted to the Minister for approval, who has the power to change it.15

5.4.3.2 Minister approves water management plans

Once made, a water management plan remains in force for 10 years.16 It must be reviewed by the Minister 5 years after it was made to assess whether the plan is still adequate and appropriate in implementing the water management principles set out in the Water Management Act 2000.17

The Minister may at any time amend a water management plan but if the change has the effect of reducing a licencee's water allocation, compensation may, in very limited circumstances, be payable.18

Note: The water management plans prepared so far have all been water sharing plans. Existing and draft plans may viewed on the NSW Office of Water's website.

5.4.3.3 Legal challenges

The legal validity of a water management plan may be challenged by any person in the Land and Environment Court within 3 months after the plan (or an amendment of it) was published in the NSW Government Gazette.19

For more information on taking legal action in the Land and Environment Court, see Fact Sheet 2.4.

5.4.4 Water access licences

5.4.4.1 Offences

It is an offence to:

• take water from a water source without an access licence, or to take water other than as authorised by an access licence,20
• breach the conditions of a water access licence,21
• take water under a water licence when there is no, or insufficient, water credited (allocated) to that account (see below).22

It is a defence if:23

• the water was taken under a basic landholder right (see below),
• there was a Ministerial order permitting an “uncontrolled flow” to be taken, or
• the Act or Regulations grant the person an exemption from the need to obtain a licence, for example, where the person holds native title rights (see below).

5.4.4.1.1 Basic landholder rights

Landholders (owners and occupiers) are entitled to do the following things without the need for a water access licence, water supply work approval or water use approval:

• Take water from any water source on which their land has frontage for the purpose of domestic consumption and stock watering (but this does not include the right to build a dam or water bore), and
• If the land is in a “harvestable rights area” (which are declared by the Minister), to construct and use a dam to collect rain-water run-off.24

5.4.4.1.2 Exemptions from requirement to obtain access licence

Certain people have an exemption from the need to obtain a water access licence.25

The exemptions include:

• A person exercising their native title rights (see below),
• Any person lawfully engaged in the carriage of water for drought relief,
• Any person lawfully engaged in the use of water for dust suppression,
• Any person prospecting or fossicking for minerals or petroleum under the Mining Act 1992 or Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991,
• Any person using water for electricity generation for domestic consumption, but only if the water is returned to its water source.

5.4.4.1.3 Native title rights

A native title holder is entitled to exercise their native title rights without the need for a water access licence, water supply work approval or water use approval. This does not extend to the right to build a dam or water bore, or to construct or use a water supply work on land that he or she doesn't own.26

5.4.4.2 Obtaining a water licence

A water access licence can be obtained by either:27

• Applying to the Minister (eg for a specific purpose access licence), or
• Acquring the right to use an existing licence.

In response to the historical over-allocation of water licences, the Water Management Act 2000 essentially places a Statewide embargo on the granting of new licences.28 In practice, it is therefore only possible to obtain a water access licence by buying one on the water market (see para 4.7 on Water Trading below).

5.4.4.3 Public register

The Minister must keep a Water Access Licence Register, and all dealings, including any caveat or security interest (eg mortgage) over the licence must be noted.29The Water Access Licence Register is administered by the Land and Property Management Authority.

5.4.4.4 Water licence characteristics

Water licences:

• are no longer attached to a specific land title (as they were under the Water Act 1912 );
• can therefore be traded up and down a river, or even between rivers and States (in limited circumstances), and
• no longer expire (they are now issued in perpetuity).

5.4.4.4.1 Share component

A water access licence entitles the holder to take a share of the available water from a specified water source. This is called the “share component” and is defined on the licence.30

For example, the share component might be expressed as:

• a maximum volume of water over time,
• a specified proportion of the available water,
• a specified proportion of the storage capacity of a dam, or
• a specified number of units.

5.4.4.4.2 Extraction component

A water access licence also entitles the holder to take water at specified times, at specified rates, or in specified circumstances, which is called the “extraction component”.

5.4.4.4.3 Conditions

A water access licence will often contain conditions which regulate how water can be taken (discretionary conditions).31 In additon, the relevant water management plan can require conditions to be imposed on all licences (mandatory conditions).32

5.4.4.4.4 Duration of licences

Under the Water Act 1912, water access licences had a fixed 5-year term. However, under the Water Management Act 2000 , water access licences are now granted in perpetuity and do not need to be renewed. The licence has effect unless and until it is cancelled.33

5.4.4.5 Licence categories

A range of different licences can be issued.34

Different categories of water licences enjoy different levels of water security. For example, a high security licence has a higher chance of receiving a water allocation than a general security licence.35The Water Management Act sets out the priorities between the different categories of licences, although a water management plan can provide for different rules.36

For example, domestic and stock licences and local water utility or major utility licences will have priority over all other users, followed by high security licences, then low security licences and so on.

The cost of water licences will vary depending on the licence category, the catchment, and the available water in each catchment and from time to time.

5.4.4.6 How are water allocations determined under a water licence?

5.4.4.6.1 Available water determinations

From time to time, the Minister (through the NSW Office of Water) makes an “available water determination” for each catchment as to how much water is available to be taken, either in relation to categories of licences, or for individual licences.37

The allocation will depend upon the prevailing weather conditions and the amount of water available in the dams, eg in a dry year the available water determination may be revised downwards, and in a wet year the available water determination may be increased.

5.4.4.6.2 Water allocation accounts

After the available water determination has been made, the amount available for each licence is credited to each licence. Each licence has a water allocation account for this purpose. The account records the actual water allocations (in megalitres) which accrue to the licence annually or within certain intervals. Water is credited each year (after an allocation) and debited when any water is taken at the extraction point. It is an offence to take water if the allocation in the account is insufficient.38

5.4.4.7 Water trading

Water licences have been traded in NSW since 1990. The water trading market is still developing, and water licences are becoming increasingly valuable as the demand for water increases and water availability decreases. Water trading can take place within NSW water sources, and between States.39 Water trading usually takes place through the use of a water broker (which are not regulated).

Two types of water trades are possible:

• permanent transfers, or
• temporary transfers.

5.4.4.7.1 Permanent transfers

Permanent transfers are also called “permanent trades” or “assignment of share components”. It is the equivalent of selling a licence.

Some or all of the shares available under a water access licence may be sold to another licence holder in the same water source.40 For the licence to be moved to a different holder in a different water source, a transfer and change is necessary.

5.4.4.7.2 Temporary transfers

Temporary transfers are also called “temporary trades”, “water allocation assignments” or “term transfers”.41 Temporary transfers are only available on regulated rivers.

Licence holders can make a temporary transfer (assignment) of their water allocation, but this can only be made to another licence holder. This is equivalent to “leasing” the water. The transfer must be for at least 6 months. The must be registered by the Land and Property Management Authority on the Water Access Licence Register once the agreement is complete.

To give effect to a temporary transfer, the water allocation account of one licence is debited by a volume and the water allocation account of the receiving licence is credited by the same volume. The dealing has no permanent effect on the licence itself.

5.4.4.7.3 Ministerial approval required for trades

All dealings, including all temporary and permanent trades in access licences require Ministerial consent.42 An applicant may bring a merits appeal in the Land and Environment Court if the Minister refuses to consent to a dealing in an access licence.43

5.4.4.8 Environmental flows

In addition to regulating individual water access licences, the Water Management Act 2000 establishes a scheme to ensure that sufficient water remains in streams and rivers for the environment once all other extractions have been made.44

There are two types of environmental water:

• planned environmental water, and
• adaptive environmental water.

5.4.4.8.1 Planned environment water

Planned environmental water is water that is committed under a management plan for environmental purposes to ensure the health of ecosystems. This water can be committed either generally or at specified times (eg bird breeding seasons). It cannot be taken or used for any other purpose.45

5.4.4.8.2 Adaptive environmental water

Adaptive environmental water is water that is committed by the conditions of an access licence for environmental purposes.46 For example, adaptive environmental water might be generated by a licence holder “dedicating” their water for environmental purposes,47 as a result of system improvements,48 or through water savings.49

5.4.4.8.3 Delivery of environmental water

How much environmental water is available for a river is dependent upon a complex interaction between:

• the environmental water rules set out in each water sharing plan,50
• the bulk access regime set up by a water sharing plan, and
• the available water determinations that are made by the Minister from time to time.

Water management plans must identify the rules for the establishment and maintenance of each of these types of environmental water.51 This must be done by reference to at least two of the following things:52

• the physical presence of water in the water source,
• the long-term average annual commitment of planned environmental water, or
• how much water is not committed after other commitments have been met.

5.4.5 Works approvals

A water access licence only gives the holder the right to take water. It does not give the person the right to use the water or to build any of the works such as pipes, pumps or dams that might be physically required to extract and store the water. These works require a “water use approval” and a “water supply work approval”. Any work on or under a river bank will require a “controlled activity approval”.

5.4.5.1 Water use approvals

Water use approvals are required before a person can use water which they are entitled to take under a water access licence.53 It is an offence for a person to use water if they do not hold an approval for that use, or to use water otherwise than as authorised by an approval.54 Applications are made to the Minister for Water.

One of the main objectives of requiring an approval to use water is to avoid or minimise the land degradation which can be caused by inappropriate water use, such as soil erosion, soil compaction, geomorphic instability, contamination, acidity, waterlogging, the decline of native vegetation and salinity.55 For example, water use for cropping activities such as cotton production should not be permitted in areas which are prone to salinity.

5.4.5.1.1 Defences and exemptions

Defences and exemptions from the need to obtain a water use approval include:56

• the water was taken under a basic landholder right, which includes the right to use water for domestic consumption and stock watering,
• the person held a development consent authorising the use of the water,
• the water was used for drought relief or dust suppression,
• the water was used for prospecting or fossicking for minerals or petroleum under the Mining Act 1992 or Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991, or
• the water was used for Aboriginal cultural purposes.

5.4.5.2 Water management works approvals

There are three kinds of water management works approvals:57

• Water supply work approvals – these authorise the holder to construct and use a water supply work, such as water pumps and water bores, tanks or dams to capture rain-water runoff, water banks or levees which divert water, and weirs,58
• Drainage work approvals – these give the holder the right to construct and use drainage works, such as pumps, pipes and sluice gates, but does not include any sewage work,59 and
• Flood work approvals – these allow the holder to construct and use specified flood works, such as a barrage, causeway, cutting or embankment that is likely to have an effect on the flow of water or on flood waters.60

It is an offence to construct or use these things without approval, or to do so otherwise than as approved.61 Applications are made to the Minister for Water.

5.4.5.2.1 Defences and exemptions

Defences and exemptions from the need to obtain a water management works approval include:62

• the water was taken under a basic landholder right, which includes domestic consumption and stock watering,
• the work carried out was an “excluded work”, such as a dam built solely for the prevention or control of soil erosion, or for flood detention and mitigation,63 or
• the work is to be used solely for the purpose of prospecting or fossicking for minerals or petroleum under the Mining Act 1992 or Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991.

5.4.5.3 Approvals for works on waterfront land

5.4.5.3.1 Repeal of the Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act 1948

Works near riverbanks used to be regulated under the Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act 1948. However, this Act was repealed by the Water Management Act 2000, which has largely incorporated the provisions of the Rivers and Foreshores Improvement Act 1948.64

5.4.5.3.2 Activities on or under waterfront land

If a controlled activity is proposed on waterfront land, an approval is required for that work (called an “activity approval”).65 It is an offence to carry out a controlled activity on waterfront land without approval, or in breach of the conditions of an approval.66 Applications are made to the Minister for Water.

“Waterfront land” is land that is 40 metres either side of the bed of any river, lake or estuary, including the bed itself.67

“Controlled activities” include:68

• erection of a building or the carrying out of a work,69
• removal of material (whether or not extractive material) or vegetation from land, whether by way of excavation or otherwise,
• deposition of material (whether or not extractive material) on land, whether by way of landfill operations or otherwise, or
• carrying out of any other activity that affects the quantity or flow of water in a water source.

5.4.5.3.3 Defences and exemptions

Defences and exemptions include:70

• the person is a public authority or local council,
• the activities are carried out under the Mining Act 1992,
• the activities are carried out in connection with a dwelling-house which is authorised under the EPA Act, or
• the activities only involve the removal of native vegetation that would otherwise be lawful.

5.4.5.4 Applications for works approvals

5.4.5.4.1 Minister grants works approvals

Applications for all works approvals are made to the Minister, who is responsible for deciding applications.71 The Minister must not grant the application if there is an embargo in place in any water management area.72

In deciding the application, the Minister must be satisfied that no more than minimal harm will be done to any water source or its dependent ecosystems, as a consequence of the construction or use of the proposed work.

5.4.5.4.2 Advertising of applications

Some, but not all, classes of applications must be advertised. These include:73

• applications for water supply work approvals for the taking of water from a river, bores for the taking of water (other than bores used solely for taking water in accordance with a person's basic landholder rights), or works (such as weirs) that have the effect of impounding water, and works (such as tanks and dams) that are constructed or used for the purpose of capturing rainwater run-off,74
• applications for water use approvals for irrigation,
• applications whose advertising is required by any relevant management plan.

A water management plan can also impose a requirement for certain water approvals to be advertised.

Advertising is not required if the application also requires development consent which is integrated development.75

Where advertising is required, the application for approval must be advertised by the Minister by publishing a notice:76

• in a local newspaper, and
• in a newspaper circulating among such Aboriginal communities as could be affected by the granting of such an approval, and
• on the Department of Water's website.

5.4.5.4.3 Integrated development

A development which requires both development consent and a works approval will be processed as integrated development under the EPA Act.77 The effect of this is that the consent authority under the EPA Act (usually the local council or the Minister for Planning) must, before granting a development consent, request the Minister for Water to provide indicate whether approval would be granted and the general terms of such approval. In addition, the public loses its right to object and appeal to a water approval application, unless the development is also designated development.78

For more information on integrated development and designated development, see Fact Sheet 2.2 on Development applications and consents.

5.4.5.4.4 Objections to Minister

If an application for approval has been advertised, any person can object to the granting of the approval (unless the approval is being sought as part of an integrated development that is not also designated development, see above).79 The Minister for Water must endeavour to resolve the issues raised by the objection through consultation with the applicant and objector.80

If the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) has reviewed the development to which the water approval application relates, then the Minister must defer making any decision on the application until the Minister receives the PAC's report on the matter.81

5.4.5.4.5 Objector appeals

If the Minister does not resolve the objection, then the objector may bring a merits appeal in the Land and Environment Court against the Minister's subsequent decision to grant the approval.82

For more information on appeals to the Land and Environment Court, see Fact Sheet 2.4.

5.4.5.4.6 Applicant appeals

An applicant who is dissatisfied with the Minister's decision in relation to an application for a works approval may appeal to the Land and Environment Court within 28 days of the decision being made.83 Any person who objected to the licence application can join such an appeal.84

5.4.5.4.7 Judicial review proceedings

Any person can bring legal proceedings in the Land and Environment Court to remedy or restrain a breach of the Water Management Act 2000.85 This includes bringing proceedings to challenge the validity of any water use approval issued under the Act.

For more information on judicial review proceedings in the Land and Environment Court , see Fact Sheet 2.4.

5.4.6 Enforcement of the Water Management Act 2000

The Minister for Water and the NSW Office of Water have extensive powers to investigate and enforce breaches of the Water Management Act 2000 , including the power to:

• give directions to landholders not to waste water,86
• impose temporary water restrictions,87
• issue stop work orders,88
• give a landholder a direction to prevent stock from straying from a landholder's land into water courses,89
• take remedial measures,90
• issue penalty notices for certain offences,91 and
• bring criminal prosecutions in the Land and Environment Court where a person has committed an offence.92

5.4.7 Role of the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth has recently adopted a leading role in the regulation and management of water between States in the Murray-Darling Basin.

5.4.7.1 Water Act 2007 (Cth)

The Water Act 2007 is intended to allow the Commonwealth to coordinate the management of water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin in conjunction with the Basin States.93

The Act establishes the Murray-Darling Basin Authority as the national regulatory authority. The Act allows the Commonwealth to establish a Basin Plan which will establish limits on the amount of water which can be taken from the Basin as a whole.94 The Act will also standardise water trading rules between the Murray-Darling States.95

The Federal Minister responsible for the Water Act 2007 is the Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water. The Act is administered by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.

5.4.7.2 Water (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2008 (NSW)

The Water (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2008 refers certain powers to the Commonwealth regarding water management to ensure that the Commonwealth has sufficient constitutional power to enable the cooperative water management arrangements under the Commonwealth's Water Act 2007 to be implemented.

The matters which have been referred include:96

• the management of Basin water resources to meet critical human water needs,
• control over water charging, and
• certain powers over water trading.

1. See also the Water Management (General) Regulation 2004.
2. Water Management Act 2000, s 401; Sch 7 will repeal the Water Act 1912 once it commences.
3. Water Management Act 2000, Chapter 2, Part 3, ss 15 – 51.
4. Water Management Act 2000, s 15(1).
5. Water Management Act 2000, s 20.
6. Water Management Act 2000, s 23.
7. Water Management Act 2000, s 26.
8. Water Management Act 2000, s 29, 30.
9. Water Management Act 2000, s 11.
10. Water Management Act 2000, s 15.
11. Water Management Act 2000, s 12, 13, 15.
12. Water Management Act 2000, s 14(3).
13. Water Management Act 2000, s 16.
14. Water Management Act 2000, s 38, 39, 40.
15. Water Management Act 2000, s 40, 41.
16. Water Management Act 2000, s 43.
17. Water Management Act 2000, s 43(2).
18. Water Management Act 2000, s 87AA.
19. Water Management Act 2000, s 47, and s 336.
20. Water Management Act 2000, s 60A.
21. Water Management Act 2000, s 60B,
22. Water Management Act 2000, s 60C.
23. Water Management Act 2000, s 60F(2), 85A.
24. Water Management Act 2000, s 53, 54.
25. Water Management (General) Regulation 2004, cl 18.
26. Water Management Act 2000, s 55.
27. Water Management Act 2000, s 61.
28. Water Management Act 2000 , s 65.
29. Water Management Act 2000, s 71, 71A.
30. Water Management Act 2000, s 56(1)(a).
31. Water Management Act 2000, s 66(1)(b).
32. Water Management Act 2000, s 66(1)(a).
33. Water Management Act 2000, s 69.
34. Water Management Act 2000, s 57.
35. Water Management Act 2000, s 58.
36. Water Management Act 2000, s 58(3).
37. Water Management Act 2000, s 59, 60.
38. Water Management Act 2000, s 60C.
39. Water Management Act 2000, s 71U, 71V.
40. Water Management Act 2000, s 71Q.
41. Water Management Act 2000, s 71T.
42. Water Management Act 2000, s 71L, 71Y.
43. Water Management Act 2000, s 368(e).
44. Water Management Act 2000, s 3, 20(1)(a).
45. Water Management Act 2000, s 8(1)(a), 8A.
46. Water Management Act 2000, s 8(1)(b),
47. Water Management Act 2000, s 8B.
48. Water Management Act 2000, s 8C.
49. Water Management Act 2000, s 8D.
50. Water Management Act 2000, s 8(2)
51. Water Management Act 2000, s 8(2), (3).
52. Water Management Act 2000, s 8(1A).
53. Water Management Act 2000, s 89.
54. Water Management Act 2000, s 91A.
55. Water Management Act 2000, s 5(4)(a).
56. Water Management Act 2000, s 91M(2); Water Management (General) Regulation 2004, cl 38..
57. Water Management Act 2000, s 90.
58. Water Management Act 2000, Dictionary “water management work”.
59. Water Management Act 2000, Dictionary “drainage work”.
60. Water Management Act 2000, Dictionary “flood work”.
61. Water Management Act 2000, s 91B, 91C, 91D.
62. Water Management Act 2000, s 91M(2); Water Management (General) Regulation 2004, cl 39.
63. Water Management (General) Regulation 2004, cl 39(1)(a), cl 3 Definitions, Sch 1 defines “excluded works”.
64. Water Management Act 2000, s 401, Sch 7.
65. Water Management Act 2000, s 91(2),
66. Water Management Act 2000, s 91E, 91G.
67. Water Management Act 2000, Dictionary “waterfront land”.
68. Water Management Act 2000, Dictionary “controlled activity”.
69. Within the meaning of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ,
70. Water Management Act 2000, s 91M(2); Water Management (General) Regulation 2004, cl 39A.
71. Water Management Act 2000, s 92, 95.
72. Water Management Act 2000, s 110.
73. Water Management Act 2000, s 92(7); Water Management (General) Regulation 2004, cl 32.
74. But see some exceptions to this in the Water Management (General) Regulation 2004, cl 32(2).
75. Water Management Act 2000, s 99(2).
76. Water Management (General) Regulation 2004, cl 32(3), (4).
77. EPA Act, s 91; Water Management Act 2000, s 99.
78. Water Management Act 2000, s 99(3), (4).
79. Water Management Act 2000, s 93; Water Management (General) Regulation 2004, cl 34.
80. Water Management Act 2000, s 93(5).
81. Water Management Act 2000, s 94(2), (3).
82. Water Management Act 2000, s 368(1)(h), (6).
83. Water Management Act 2000, s 368; Land and Environment Court Act 1979, s 17(c).
84. Water Management Act 2000, s 368(4).
85. Water Management Act 2000, s 336.
86. Water Management Act 2000, s 325.
87. Water Management Act 2000, s 324.
88. Water Management Act 2000, s 327, 328, 330
89. Water Management Act 2000, s 332.
90. Water Management Act 2000, s 336A.
91. Water Management Act 2000, s 365.
92. Water Management Act 2000, s 364.
93. Water Act 2007, s 3(a).
94. Water Act 2007, s 19 - 44.
95. Water Act 2007, s 10.
96. Water (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2008, s 3 “referred subject-matters”.