Queensland Consolidated Acts

WATER ACT 2000 - SECT 10

(1) The purpose of this chapter is to advance sustainable management and efficient use of water and other resources by establishing a system for the planning, allocation and use of water.

(2) For subsection (1), sustainable management is management that—

(a) allows for the allocation and use of water for the physical, economic and social wellbeing of the people of Queensland and Australia within limits that can be sustained indefinitely; and

(b) protects the biological diversity and health of natural ecosystems; and

(c) contributes to the following—

(i) improving planning confidence of water users now and in the future regarding the availability and security of water entitlements;

(ii) the economic development of Queensland in accordance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development;

(iii) maintaining or improving the quality of naturally occurring water and other resources that benefit the natural resources of the State;

(iv) protecting water, watercourses, lakes, springs, aquifers, natural ecosystems and other resources from degradation and, if practicable, reversing degradation that has occurred;

(v) recognising the interests of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders and their connection with the landscape in water planning;

(vi) providing for the fair, orderly and efficient allocation of water to meet community needs;

(vii) increasing community understanding of the need to use and manage water in a sustainable and cost efficient way;

(viii) encouraging the community to take an active part in planning the allocation and management of water;

(ix) integrating, as far as practicable, the administration of this Act and other legislation dealing with natural resources.

(3) For subsection (1), efficient use of water—

(a) incorporates demand management measures that achieve permanent and reliable reductions in the demand for water; and

(b) promotes water conservation and appropriate water quality objectives for intended use of water; and

(c) promotes water recycling, including, for example, water reuse within a particular enterprise to gain the maximum benefit from available supply; and

(d) takes into consideration the volume and quality of water leaving a particular application or destination to ensure it is appropriate for the next application or destination, including, for example, release into the environment.