11 Nov 2015
Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham has introduced the Water Legislation Amendment Bill to the Queensland Parliament.
The Bill retains important provisions of the legislation passed late last year dealing with simplification of the process for water planning and water licence dealings.
These provisions are important in simplifying the legislation that farmers have to operate under, Ruth Wade QFF CEO said.
“There are no changes to provisions of the Act that deal with managing the impacts on underground water from resource sector development.This results in a more consistent and effective management framework. QFF expect the implementation of these provisions will take some time”.
Changes to the Act, introduced by the State Government, include reinstating principles of ecologically sustainable development and removing provisions for the grant of access to water for major developments.
Changes of this nature were expected to bring the legislation into line with Government policy.
“The Government needs to consider other measures that will help larger scale developments access water reserves within catchments or other options to source water via water trading.” Ruth Wade said.
The Departments power to designate watercourses for the purposes of deregulating watercourse lengths has also been removed.
The Bill has been referred to a Parliamentary Committee which will call for public submissions and conduct public hearings to scrutinise the Bill and report back to Parliament.
QFF will be making a submission.
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