{"id":"metropolitan-arterial-drainage-act-1982","name":"Metropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982","slug":"metropolitan-arterial-drainage-act-1982","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":94221,"registerId":"wa-metropolitan-arterial-drainage-act-1982-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Metropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nMetropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982\n\n- **Reprinted under the *Reprints Act 1984* as**\n- **at 17 January 2014**\n\n\nWestern Australia\n\nMetropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982\n\nContents\n\nPart I — Preliminary\n\n1. Short title 2\n\n2. Commencement 2\n\n4. Terms used 2\n\n5. Relation to *Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage, and Drainage Act 1909* and references to former Board etc. 3\n\nPart II — Administration\n\n19. Exemption from personal liability 5\n\nPart IX — Drainage\n\nDivision 1 — Arterial Drainage Scheme\n\n98. Scheme 7\n\nDivision 2 — Arterial drains\n\n99. Management of arterial drains 9\n\nDivision 5 — Drainage courses\n\n106. Declaration of drainage course 10\n\n107. Development in drainage courses 12\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 13\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\n- Crest **Reprinted under the *Reprints Act 1984* as**\n- **at 17 January 2014**\n\n\nWestern Australia\n\nMetropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982\n\nAn Act to provide for an Arterial Drainage Scheme and the declaration of drainage courses.\n\n[Long title inserted: No. 25 of 2012 s. 21.]\n\n## Part I — Preliminary\n\n[Division heading deleted: No. 110 of 1985 s. 15.]\n\n##### 1. Short title\n\nThis Act may be cited as the *Metropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982* 1.\n\n[Section 1 amended: No. 25 of 2012 s. 22.]\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThe provisions of this Act shall come into operation on such day or days as is or are respectively fixed by proclamation 1.\n\n[**3.** Deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 30.]\n\n##### 4. Terms used\n\n(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —\n\narterial drain means an existing or proposed drainage asset classified as an arterial drain in the Arterial Drainage Scheme;\n\n  Arterial Drainage Scheme or Scheme means the scheme of that name compiled pursuant to Part IX;\n\ndrainage assets has the meaning given in the *Water Services Act 2012* section 108;\n\n  drainage course means an area declared to be a drainage course pursuant to section 106;\n\n  former Authority means the Water Authority of Western Australia under the *Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984* 2 before the commencement of Part 2 of the *Water Agencies Restructure (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 1995* 3;\n\n  former Commission means the Water and Rivers Commission established by section 4 of the *Water and Rivers Commission Act 1995* 4 and in existence before the repeal of that Act;\n\n  former Metropolitan Authority means the Metropolitan Water Authority under this Act before the commencement of section 36 of the *Acts Amendment and Repeal (Water Authorities) Act 1985* 1;\n\nlicensee has the meaning given in the *Water Services Act 2012* section 3(1).\n\n(1A) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, terms not otherwise assigned a meaning under this section but referred to in section 3 of the *Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984* as having a meaning assigned for the purposes of a relevant Act have that meaning in and for the purposes of this Act.\n\n[(2) deleted]\n\n[Section 4 amended: No. 101 of 1982 s. 4; No. 25 of 1985 s. 31; No. 110 of 1985 s. 16; No. 24 of 1987 s. 12; No. 73 of 1995 s. 82 and 93; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 47; No. 55 of 2004 s. 753; No. 38 of 2007 s. 25; No. 19 of 2010 s. 51; No. 25 of 2012 s. 23.]\n\n##### 5. Relation to *Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage, and Drainage Act 1909* and references to former Board etc.\n\n(1) The provisions of this Act are incorporated with, and may be read as one with the *Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage, and Drainage Act 1909*, and a reference to “this Act” shall be read and construed as including a reference to that Act and to by‑laws made under that Act or the *Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984*.\n\n(2) Any reference to the former Board or the former Metropolitan Authority made —\n\n(a) in a written law passed or made; or\n\n(b) in any document or instrument made, executed, entered into or done; or\n\n(c) otherwise,\n\nbefore the coming into operation of this subsection shall, unless the context is such that it would be incorrect or inappropriate so to do, be read and construed as a reference to the former Commission or the Corporation as the case requires.\n\n[Section 5 amended: No. 25 of 1985 s. 32; No. 73 of 1995 s. 83 and 93; No. 67 of 2003 Sch. 2 cl. 48; No. 38 of 2007 s. 26.]\n\n[Division heading deleted: No. 110 of 1985 s. 15.]\n\n[**6.** Deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 33.]\n\n[**7.** Deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 34.]\n\n## Part II — Administration\n\n[Division heading deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 35.]\n\n[**8.** Deleted: No. 73 of 1995 s. 84.]\n\n[**9.** Deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 37.]\n\n[**10.** Deleted: No. 73 of 1995 s. 84.]\n\n[**11.** Deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 39.]\n\n[Division heading deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 35.]\n\n[**12‑17.** Deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 39.]\n\n[**18.** Deleted: No. 73 of 1995 s. 84.]\n\n##### 19. Exemption from personal liability\n\nA person who is or has been a member, acting member or delegate of the former Commission, the former Board, the former Metropolitan Authority, the Board of the former Metropolitan Authority or the former Authority is not personally liable in civil proceedings, for anything done or omitted in good faith in, or in connection with, the exercise or purported exercise of any power conferred, or the carrying out of any duty imposed, under this Act or the *Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage, and Drainage Act 1909*.\n\n[Section 19 amended: No. 101 of 1982 s. 7; No. 25 of 1985 s. 41; No. 73 of 1995 s. 85; No. 38 of 2007 s. 27.]\n\n[Division heading deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 35.]\n\n[**20‑25.** Deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 42.]\n\n[Division heading deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 35.]\n\n[**26‑27.** Deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 42.]\n\n[**28.** Deleted: No. 73 of 1995 s. 86.]\n\n[Division heading deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 35.]\n\n[**29, 30.** Deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 45.]\n\n[Division heading deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 35.]\n\n[**31‑34.** Repealed: No. 25 of 1985 s. 45.]\n\n[Part III (s. 35‑38) deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 45.]\n\n[Part IV s. 39‑41  deleted: No. 24 of 1987 s. 15;  \ns. 42 deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 46;  \ns. 43‑45 deleted: No. 25 of 2012 s. 24.]\n\n[Part V (s. 46‑64) deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 47.]\n\n[Part VI (s. 65‑68) deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 48.]\n\n[Part VII (s. 69‑76) deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 49.]\n\n[Part VIII (s. 77‑97) deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 50.]\n\n## Part IX — Drainage\n\n### Division 1 — Arterial Drainage Scheme\n\n[Heading inserted: No. 101 of 1982 s. 15.]\n\n##### 98. Scheme\n\n(1) The Minister is charged with ensuring that a scheme is compiled, to be known as the Arterial Drainage Scheme, whereby practical and economic provision is made, in consultation with all relevant licensees, for the planning, managing, maintaining, financing, extending and improving of drainage services to serve the Area.\n\n(2) The Minister shall prepare, and from time to time review and amend, plans which together will ultimately illustrate the Arterial Drainage Scheme in such a manner as to show —\n\n(a) drainage catchments; and\n\n(b) lakes, swamps, wetlands, watercourses and other features related to natural drainage; and\n\n(c) areas of existing, proposed or potential development; and\n\n(d) the existing drainage system — differentiating as to the kinds of drainage; and\n\n(e) the proposed drainage system — differentiating as to the proposed kinds of drainage and the persons or bodies to be liable for the provision and maintenance of that drainage; and\n\n(f) land which, in the opinion of the Minister —\n\n(i) benefits from drainage; and\n\n(ii) contributes to the need for drainage;\n\nand\n\n(g) any other matter or thing prescribed by regulations made under the *Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984* for the purposes of this section.\n\n(3) The Arterial Drainage Scheme shall make provision for —\n\n(a) the classification of drainage assets as arterial drains; and\n\n[(b), (c) deleted]\n\n(d) drainage courses,\n\nand may make provision for utilising the potential of the Scheme to conserve water, to re‑charge aquifers, or in any other manner, in the best interests of the community and for the management of the natural environment.\n\n(4) In planning and implementing the Scheme the Minister shall consult and collaborate with all relevant licensees and the local governments of the districts which are affected, and, in so far as that is practicable, shall consult with the respective authorities or bodies having responsibility for health, planning, roads, railways, conservation and environmental protection, and waterways, having regard to their statutory duties and practical requirements.\n\n(5) In preparing the Scheme, the Minister shall take into account environmental, conservation and management considerations, and the financial implications as to the provision and maintenance of drainage assets and the Scheme is to be prepared in such a manner as to ultimately make provision for the division of responsibilities, by agreement, as between the Minister, relevant licensees, local governments and other persons.\n\n[Section 98 inserted: No. 101 of 1982 s. 15; amended: No. 73 of 1995 s. 87; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 38 of 2007 s. 28; No. 25 of 2012 s. 25.]\n\n### Division 2 — Arterial drains\n\n##### 99. Management of arterial drains\n\n(1) The Minister has responsibility for the over‑all administration of the system of arterial drainage and of arterial drains comprised within the Scheme, notwithstanding that the control, management and care of any particular arterial drain or any portion of an arterial drain may for the time being be vested in some other person or body.\n\n[(2) deleted]\n\n(3) This Act does not vest in the Minister the control, management or care of an arterial drain or proposed arterial drain.\n\n(4) The Minister shall —\n\n(a) determine what drainage assets shall be designated arterial drains, and what proposed drainage assets should be designated as arterial drains, and assign names to them respectively; and\n\n(b) delineate the point of commencement, route and point of termination of arterial drains on a specified plan or plans; and\n\n(c) indicate the nature and size of the arterial drains; and\n\n(d) notify in writing, accompanied by a copy of a relevant plan, all relevant licensees and the local government of each district in which an arterial drain or proposed arterial drain is, or is to be, situated of the designation of that drainage asset as an arterial drain; and\n\n(e) invite submissions from the licensees and the local governments affected within such reasonable time as is specified in the notice of designation; and\n\n(f) review, and, as may be necessary, amend from time to time the designations made.\n\n(5) In so far as the course of an arterial drain or proposed arterial drain may traverse more than one district, and may affect the community or the environment, the Minister shall endeavour to evolve and coordinate measures to ensure the most practicable manner of control, management and care of the drain within the concept of an integrated scheme of drainage.\n\n[Section 99 inserted: No. 101 of 1982 s. 15; amended: No. 73 of 1995 s. 88; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 38 of 2007 s. 29; No. 25 of 2012 s. 26.]\n\n[Division 3 (s. 100‑102) deleted: No. 25 of 2012 s. 27.]\n\n[Division 4 (s. 103‑105) deleted: No. 25 of 2012 s. 27.]\n\n### Division 5 — Drainage courses\n\n##### 106. Declaration of drainage course\n\n(1) In relation to any drainage asset or proposed drainage asset, the Minister may determine that an area of land sufficient to contain the drainage asset should be declared to be a drainage course.\n\n(2) On determining the point of commencement, route, extent, dimensions, and point of termination of a proposed drainage course and assigning a name to it, the Minister shall cause the lands comprising the drainage course, in sufficient detail to enable the boundaries to be ascertained, to be delineated on a specified plan and shall —\n\n(a) serve notice in writing, accompanied by a copy of or relevant extract from that specified plan, to be served on all relevant licensees and the local government of each district in which the course is, or is to be, situated and (so far as is practicable) on each person who is an owner or is an occupier of land within the boundaries of that drainage course, of the proposal providing that objections and submissions in relation thereto may be made to the Minister within one month from the date of service of the notice; and\n\n(b) cause an advertisement to be published in a newspaper circulating in the area affected by the proposal specifying the proposal in general terms and indicating in what manner and the times when, and places at which, further particulars can be ascertained, and, upon request, furnish those particulars; and\n\n(c) so far as is practicable, negotiate with all relevant licensees and any local government or person making an objection or submission, and modify the proposal accordingly.\n\n(3) The Minister shall cause to be published in the *Government Gazette* a notice —\n\n(a) declaring that as from the date specified in the notice the land within the boundaries described or referred to in the notice shall be a drainage course known by the name assigned in the notice; and\n\n(b) containing a description of the boundaries sufficient to identify them or referring to descriptions whereby they can be ascertained; and\n\n(c) specifying the plan on which the lands are delineated and stating where it may be inspected,\n\nand effect shall be given to that declaration.\n\n(4) The Minister may, by subsequent notice published in the *Government Gazette* in the manner required by subsection (3), vary any declaration made pursuant to this section.\n\n(5) The Minister may, by notice published in the *Government Gazette*, cancel any declaration made pursuant to this section in relation to any lands and thereupon the lands specified in that notice shall cease to be comprised within a drainage course.\n\n(6) The declaration of a drainage course —\n\n(a) shall be taken to be notice of the intention of the Minister that the land is liable to be utilised for arterial drainage; but\n\n(b) does not thereby entitle any person to compensation from the Crown.\n\n[Section 106 inserted: No. 101 of 1982 s. 15; amended: No. 73 of 1995 s. 90; No. 14 of 1996 s. 4; No. 38 of 2007 s. 30; No. 25 of 2012 s. 28.]\n\n##### 107. Development in drainage courses\n\n[(1) deleted]\n\n(2) The Minister must inform a planning authority of the existence of a drainage course.\n\n(3) A planning authority shall have regard to the existence of a drainage course when considering whether any conditions should be imposed in relation to any development or subdivision.\n\n(4) In this section the terms development and subdivision have the same meaning as those terms have in and for the purposes of the *Water Services Act 2012* Part 5 Division 3.\n\n[Section 107 inserted: No. 101 of 1982 s. 15; amended: No. 110 of 1985 s. 20; No. 73 of 1995 s. 91, 92 and 93; No. 38 of 2007 s. 31; No. 25 of 2012 s. 29.]\n\n[**108.** Deleted: No. 25 of 2012 s. 30.]\n\n[Part X (s. 109‑112) deleted: No. 25 of 1985 s. 51.]\n\n![dline]()\n\nNotes\n\n1 This reprint is a compilation as at 17 January 2014 of the *Metropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982* and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table. The table also contains information about any reprint.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Metropolitan Water Authority Act 1982* 5 | 36 of 1982 | 27 May 1982 | 1 Jul 1982 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 25 Jun 1982 p. 2091) |\n| *Metropolitan Water Authority Amendment Act 1982* | 101 of 1982 | 24 Nov 1982 | 31 Dec 1982 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 1982 p. 4969) |\n| *Acts Amendment and Repeal (Water Authorities) Act 1985* Pt. IV | 25 of 1985 | 6 May 1985 | 1 Jul 1985 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 7 Jun 1985 p. 1931) |\n| *Acts Amendment (Water Authorities) Act 1985* Pt. III | 110 of 1985 | 17 Dec 1985 | 14 Mar 1986 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 14 Mar 1986 p. 726) |\n| *Acts Amendment (Water Authority Rates and Charges) Act 1987* Pt. II | 24 of 1987 | 25 Jun 1987 | 14 Jul 1987 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 14 Jul 1987 p. 2647) |\n| *Water Agencies Restructure (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 1995* Pt. 6 | 73 of 1995 | 27 Dec 1995 | 1 Jan 1996 (see s. 2(2) and *Gazette* 29 Dec 1995 p. 6291) |\n| *Local Government (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996* s. 4 | 14 of 1996 | 28 Jun 1996 | 1 Jul 1996 (see s. 2) |\n| **Reprint of the *Metropolitan Water Authority Act 1982* as at 21 Jan 2000** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Economic Regulation Authority Act 2003* Sch. 2 Div. 9 | 67 of 2003 | 5 Dec 2003 | 1 Jan 2004 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 30 Dec 2003 p. 5723) |\n| *State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004* Pt. 2 Div. 83 6 | 55 of 2004 | 24 Nov 2004 | 1 Jan 2005 (see s. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 2004 p. 7130) |\n| *Water Resources Legislation Amendment Act 2007* Pt. 3 7 | 38 of 2007 | 21 Dec 2007 | 1 Feb 2008 (see s. 2(2) and *Gazette* 31 Jan 2008 p. 251) |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Metropolitan Water Authority Act 1982* as at 4 Jul 2008** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n| *Standardisation of Formatting Act 2010* s. 51 | 19 of 2010 | 28 Jun 2010 | 11 Sep 2010 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 10 Sep 2010 p. 4341) |\n| *Water Services Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2012* Pt. 3 | 25 of 2012 | 3 Sep 2012 | 18 Nov 2013 (see s. 2(b) and *Gazette* 14 Nov 2013 p. 5028) |\n| **Reprint 3: The *Metropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982* as at 17 Jan 2014** (includes amendments listed above) | | | |\n\n\n2 Before the commencement of the *Water Agencies Restructure (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 1995* Pt. 2 the *Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984* was known as the *Water Authority Act 1984*. The short title of the *Water Authority Act 1984* was changed by the *Water Agencies Restructure (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 1995* s. 7.\n\n3 The *Water Agencies Restructure (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 1995* Pt. 2 came into operation 1 Jan 1996.\n\n4 The *Water and Rivers Commission Act 1995* was repealed by the *Water Resources Legislation Amendment Act 2007* s. 189 which came into operation 1 Feb 2008.\n\n5 Now known as the *Metropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982*; short title changed (see note under s. 1).\n\n6 The *State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004* Pt. 5, the *State Administrative Tribunal Act 2004* s. 167 and 169, and the *State Administrative Tribunal Regulations 2004* r. 28 and 42 deal with certain transitional issues some of which may be relevant for this Act.\n\n7 The *Water Resources Legislation Amendment Act 2007* Pt. 11 deals with certain transitional issues some of which may be relevant for this Act.\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\narterial drain 4(1)\n\nArterial Drainage Scheme 4(1)\n\ndevelopment 107(4)\n\ndrainage assets 4(1)\n\ndrainage course 4(1)\n\nformer Authority 4(1)\n\nformer Commission 4(1)\n\nformer Metropolitan Authority 4(1)\n\nlicensee 4(1)\n\nScheme 4(1)\n\nsubdivision 107(4)\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as the legislative text was not available for review. Only the Act's title and a website error message were provided."},"complexity_factors":["Legislation text was not retrievable — only an error page was returned","No substantive legal content could be analysed","Complexity score reflects absence of analysable material, not simplicity of the Act itself"],"plain_english_summary":"## Metropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982 (WA)\n\n**⚠️ Content Unavailable**\n\nThe full text of this Western Australian legislation could not be retrieved. The page hosting the Act on the Western Australian legislation website is no longer available at its previous address due to system upgrades.\n\n**What we know from the title alone:**\n- This is a **Western Australian state law** passed in **1982**\n- It likely deals with **arterial drainage** (large-scale water drainage infrastructure — the main pipes, channels and systems that carry stormwater or floodwater away from urban areas) in the **Perth metropolitan region**\n- It probably establishes who is responsible for building, maintaining and funding major drainage works in greater Perth\n\n**To find the current version of this Act**, visit the [Western Australian Legislation website](https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au) and search for \"Metropolitan Arterial Drainage Act 1982\" directly."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act's present scope has narrowed from its original, broader administrative structure. Multiple Parts and many sections were deleted by later amendments, leaving mainly Part IX (scheme planning, arterial drain designation and drainage course declaration) plus limited preliminary and liability provisions. Operational and many administrative functions have been transferred or removed (see numerous 'deleted' and repealed notes and the compilation table)."},"complexity_factors":["Heavy cross‑referencing to other statutes (Water Services Act 2012; Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984) and definitions (s.4)","Extensive historical amendments and many deleted sections/Parts, so current text is a reduced residual framework","Significant ministerial discretion to designate arterial drains and declare drainage courses (ss.98, 99, 106)","Technical mapping and plan requirements that rely on external technical detail and regulations (s.98(2), (3)(g))","Procedural steps for notice, objections and consultation that impose administrative burdens on the Minister and affected owners (s.106(2))","Shared financial responsibility by agreement increases contractual and negotiation complexity (s.98(5))","Interface with land‑use planning processes requires coordination with planning authorities (s.107)","Property impact mechanisms (declaration without Crown compensation) create potential uncompensated costs for landowners (s.106(6)(b))"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act requires the Minister to prepare and keep under review an Arterial Drainage Scheme that maps, classifies and plans major drains and drainage courses for the metropolitan area (ss.98, 99, 106). It binds the Minister, licensees, local governments and planning authorities: the Minister decides designations and declarations (ss.98–99, 106), must consult and notify affected parties (s.106(2)), planning authorities must have regard to declared drainage courses (s.107), and financial responsibility is to be allocated by agreement (s.98(5)); declarations do not attract Crown compensation (s.106(6)(b))."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Originally enacted as the Metropolitan Water Authority Act 1982, this legislation appears to have been a comprehensive statute establishing the Metropolitan Water Authority with broad powers over water supply, sewerage, and drainage. Through successive amendments (particularly in 1985, 1995, 2007, and 2012), most of the Act has been deleted or transferred to other legislation. What remains is narrowly focused on arterial drainage planning and drainage course declarations — essentially a shell of the original statute. The 2012 amendments removed Division 3 (construction and maintenance powers) and Division 4 (drainage rates and charges), further narrowing scope. The Act has transformed from a broad water authority establishment act to a specific drainage planning instrument."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive deletion of original content — Parts II-VIII and most of Part II divisions have been deleted over time, leaving a skeletal structure with many 'deleted' markers","Multiple re-enactment and renaming — originally the Metropolitan Water Authority Act 1982, renamed in 2012, with numerous amending acts cross-referenced","Complex transitional definitions — four 'former' entities defined (former Authority, former Commission, former Metropolitan Authority, former Board) to handle institutional changes over 30+ years","Incorporation by reference — section 5 incorporates the 1909 Metropolitan Water Supply, Sewerage, and Drainage Act by reference, requiring readers to consult another Act","Delegated definitions — 'drainage assets' and 'licensee' defined by reference to the Water Services Act 2012, not defined within this Act","Fragmented structure — what remains is essentially Part IX (drainage) plus preliminary sections, with the rest deleted, making the logical flow disjointed"],"plain_english_summary":"This Western Australian law sets up a system for managing major drainage infrastructure in the Perth metropolitan area to prevent flooding and manage water flow.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Creates the **Arterial Drainage Scheme** — a master plan showing where major drains (arterial drains) go, who maintains them, and how they connect to natural waterways like wetlands and rivers.\n- Lets the Minister declare **drainage courses** — strips of land set aside for future drainage works. Once declared, planning authorities must consider these areas when approving new developments or subdivisions.\n- Protects former board members and officials from being sued personally for actions they took in good faith under this law.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Property owners** in declared drainage courses — their land may be used for drainage without compensation, though they get notice and can object.\n- **Local councils** — must be consulted on drainage plans and must consider drainage courses when assessing development applications.\n- **Water utilities (licensees)** — must collaborate with the Minister on the drainage scheme.\n- **Developers** — must account for drainage courses when proposing subdivisions or construction.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nFlooding in urban areas can destroy homes and infrastructure. This law ensures there's coordinated, long-term planning for major drainage across the metropolitan area rather than piecemeal solutions. It also tries to balance development with environmental concerns like protecting wetlands and recharging underground water supplies (aquifers)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/metropolitan-arterial-drainage-act-1982","history":"/api/acts/metropolitan-arterial-drainage-act-1982/history","analysis":"/api/acts/metropolitan-arterial-drainage-act-1982/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/metropolitan-arterial-drainage-act-1982/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/metropolitan-arterial-drainage-act-1982/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/metropolitan-arterial-drainage-act-1982/documents"}}