{"id":"sr:water-industry-reservoir-parks-land-regulations-2024","name":"Water Industry (Reservoir Parks Land) Regulations 2024","slug":"water-industry-reservoir-parks-land-regulations-2024","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":184289,"registerId":"vic-sr:water-industry-reservoir-parks-land-regulations-2024-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Water Industry (Reservoir Parks Land) Regulations 2024","content":"Version No. 001\n\n**Water Industry (Reservoir Parks Land) Regulations 2024**\n\n**S.R. No. 139/2024**\n\nVersion as at  \n18 December 2024\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\nPart 1—Preliminary 1\n\n1 Objective 1\n\n2 Authorising provisions 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Definitions 1\n\n5 Application of these Regulations to members of traditional owner groups 4\n\nPart 2—Use of reservoir parks land 6\n\n6 Camping on reservoir parks land 6\n\n7 Fees for overnight camping in Upper Yarra Reservoir Park 6\n\n8 Use of soap and detergents 7\n\n9 Hygiene 7\n\n10 Lighting or maintaining fires 8\n\n11 Extinguishing fires 8\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 10\n\n1 General information 10\n\n2 Table of Amendments 12\n\n3 Explanatory details 13\n\n**Version No.** **001**\n\n**Water Industry (Reservoir Parks Land) Regulations 2024**\n\n**S.R. No. 139/2024**\n\nVersion as at  \n18 December 2024\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n\t1 Objective\n\nThe objective of these Regulations is to prescribe matters relating to the management of reservoir parks land, including—\n\n(a) camping and the use of fire on reservoir parks land; and\n\n(b) fees for camping in certain areas of reservoir parks land.\n\n\t2 Authorising provisions\n\nThese Regulations are made under sections 136 and 184 of the **Water Industry Act 1994**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 18 December 2024.\n\n\t4 Definitions\n\nIn these Regulations—\n\n***agreed activity*** has the same meaning as in section 79 of the **Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010**;\n\n***ANZAC Day*** has the same meaning as in section 6(h) of the **Public Holidays Act 1993**;\n\n***camp*** means do any of the following for the purposes of accommodation—\n\n(a) erect, occupy or use a tent, tarpaulin or similar form of shelter or temporary structure;\n\n(b) occupy or use a swag or sleeping bag;\n\n(c) occupy or use a vehicle, vessel or other moveable form of shelter;\n\n***eligible person*** has the same meaning as in section 3 of the **State Concessions Act 2004**;\n\n***fire declaration*** means—\n\n(a) a declaration under section 4 of the **Country Fire Authority Act 1958**; or\n\n(b) a declaration under section 40 of the **Country Fire Authority Act 1958**;\n\n***fireplace*** means a facility constructed of stone, metal, concrete or other non-flammable material that is for the lighting and maintaining of fires;\n\n***Labour Day*** has the same meaning as in section 6(d) of the **Public Holidays Act 1993**;\n\n***Melbourne Cup Day*** has the same meaning as in section 6(j) of the **Public Holidays Act 1993**;\n\n***off-peak season*** means the period commencing on 1 May and ending on 31 October in each year (excluding any days that are part of a peak season or shoulder season);\n\n***overnight booking***, in relation to a specified campsite, means an arrangement with Parks Victoria for the purpose of overnight camping;\n\n***Parks Victoria*** has the same meaning as in the **Parks Victoria Act 2018**;\n\n***peak season*** means the following periods—\n\n(a) Friday and Saturday nights during the period commencing on the last Friday in October each year and ending at the end of February of the following year;\n\n(b) the Sunday and Monday nights immediately before Melbourne Cup Day;\n\n(c) the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights immediately before Labour Day;\n\n(d) if ANZAC Day falls on a Friday, the Thursday night immediately before ANZAC Day, ANZAC Day and the Saturday immediately after ANZAC Day;\n\n(e) if ANZAC Day falls on a Monday, the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights immediately before ANZAC Day;\n\n(f) the period between the end of school term one and the beginning of school term two in each year;\n\n(g) the period between the end of school term four and the beginning of school term one in the following year;\n\n***school term*** means a term of a Government school as determined under the **Education and Training Reform Act 2006**;\n\n***shoulder season*** means the following periods—\n\n(a) the period commencing on 1 November each year and ending on 30 April of the following year (excluding any days that are part of a peak season);\n\n(b) the period between the end of school term three and the beginning of school term four in each year;\n\n***specified campsite*** means a campsite that is—\n\n(a) on reservoir parks land; and\n\n(b) within a campground provided and managed by Parks Victoria;\n\n***traditional owner group*** has the same meaning as in section 3 of the **Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010**;\n\n***traditional owner group agreement*** means an agreement under Part 6 of the **Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010**;\n\n***traditional owner group entity*** has the same meaning as in section 3 of the **Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010**;\n\n***Upper Yarra Reservoir Park*** means the land delineated by heavy black lines on the plan lodged in the Central Plan Office and numbered LEGL./11-099, excluding the area shown as excluded on that plan.\n\n\t5 Application of these Regulations to members of traditional owner groups\n\nIf a traditional owner group entity has entered into a traditional owner group agreement that applies to reservoir parks land, the following regulations do not apply to a member of the traditional owner group who is bound by the agreement and who carries out an agreed activity under the agreement on that land—\n\n(a) regulation 7;\n\n(b) regulation 10 (if the member lights or maintains a fire for the purposes of undertaking cultural activities).\n\nPart 2—Use of reservoir parks land\n\n\t6 Camping on reservoir parks land\n\n(1) A person must not camp on reservoir parks land other than in a specified campsite.\n\nPenalty: 10 penalty units.\n\n(2) A person must not camp in a specified campsite for more than 30 consecutive nights.\n\nPenalty: 10 penalty units.\n\n(3) A person who makes an overnight booking for a specified campsite must not allow more than 6 persons to camp overnight in the campsite.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n\t7 Fees for overnight camping in Upper Yarra Reservoir Park\n\n(1) A person must not camp overnight in a specified campsite in the Upper Yarra Reservoir Park unless the fee specified in subregulation (2) has been paid to Parks Victoria.\n\nPenalty: 5 penalty units.\n\n(2) The fee for overnight camping by up to 6 persons in a specified campsite in the Upper Yarra Reservoir Park is—\n\n(a) for an overnight booking made by an eligible person—\n\n(i) during the peak season, 1∙85 fee units; or\n\n(ii) during the off-peak season, 1∙67 fee units; or\n\n(iii) during the shoulder season, 1∙76 fee units; or\n\n(b) for an overnight booking made by any other person—\n\n(i) during the peak season, 2∙06 fee units; or\n\n(ii) during the off-peak season, 1∙85 fee units; or\n\n(iii) during the shoulder season, 1∙96 fee units.\n\n\t8 Use of soap and detergents\n\nA person who uses any soap, detergent or similar substance on reservoir parks land must not dispose of the soap, detergent or similar substance unless the person does so—\n\n(a) in a toilet, shower or other facility provided for that purpose; or\n\n(b) at least 50 metres from any waterway and at least 50 metres landward of the full supply level of any water storage.\n\nPenalty: 10 penalty units.\n\n\t9 Hygiene\n\nA person must not deposit or leave behind faeces on reservoir parks land unless—\n\n(a) if the person is in an area in which toilet facilities are provided and readily available, the person does so in those facilities; or\n\n(b) if the person is not in an area in which toilet facilities are provided and readily available, the person does so by burying those faeces—\n\n(i) at least 100 metres from any waterway; and\n\n(ii) at least 100 metres landward of the full supply level of any water storage.\n\nPenalty: 10 penalty units.\n\n\t10 Lighting or maintaining fires\n\n(1) A person must not light or maintain a fire on reservoir parks land unless the person lights or maintains the fire—\n\n(a) in a barbeque that is placed in a stable position and is using fuel that the barbeque is designed to use; or\n\n(b) in a fireplace.\n\nPenalty: 20 penalty units.\n\n(2) A person who lights or maintains a fire in a barbeque or fireplace on reservoir parks land must ensure that the fire is contained in the barbeque or fireplace.\n\nPenalty: 20 penalty units.\n\n(3) Subregulations (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to any reservoir parks land that is in an area for which there is a fire declaration in force.\n\n**Note**\n\nSee Part III of the **Country Fire Authority Act 1958** in relation to areas for which there is a fire declaration in force.\n\n\t11 Extinguishing fires\n\n(1) A person who lights, kindles, maintains or uses a fire on reservoir parks land must not leave the place of the fire unless—\n\n(a) the fire is completely extinguished; or\n\n(b) another person who has the capacity and means to extinguish the fire remains at the place of the fire.\n\nPenalty: 20 penalty units.\n\n(2) A person who lights, kindles, maintains, uses or is in charge of a fire on reservoir parks land must extinguish the fire immediately when requested to do so by an authorised officer or police officer.\n\nPenalty: 20 penalty units.\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Water Industry (Reservoir Parks Land) Regulations 2024, S.R. No. 139/2024 were made on 17 December 2024 by the Governor in Council under sections 136 and 184 of the **Water Industry Act 1994**, No. 121/1994 and came into operation on 18 December 2024: regulation 3.\n\nThe Water Industry (Reservoir Parks Land) Regulations 2024 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 17 December 2034 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThere are no amendments made to the Water Industry (Reservoir Parks Land) Regulations 2024 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\n**Fee Units**\n\nThese Regulations provide for fees by reference to fee units within the meaning of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**. The amount of the fee is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of that Act, by multiplying the number of fee units applicable by the value of a fee unit.\n\nThe value of a fee unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2024 is $16.33. The amount of the calculated fee may be rounded to the nearest 10 cents.\n\nThe value of a fee unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the Treasurer under section 5 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**. The value of a fee unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year.\n\n**Penalty Units**\n\nThese Regulations provide for penalties by reference to penalty units within the meaning of section 110 of the **Sentencing Act 1991**. The amount of the penalty is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**, by multiplying the number of penalty units applicable by the value of a penalty unit.\n\nThe value of a penalty unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2024 is $197.59. The amount of the calculated penalty may be rounded to the nearest dollar.\n\nThe value of a penalty unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the Treasurer under section 5 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**. The value of a penalty unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is the initial version of the instrument and does not indicate amendments to prior regulations (Endnotes: 'There are no amendments'). It establishes new rules for reservoir parks land use, fees and enforcement and will sunset after 10 years (see Endnotes)."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to multiple other Acts (Water Industry Act 1994 ss136,184; Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010; Country Fire Authority Act 1958; Parks Victoria Act 2018; Monetary Units Act 2004; Sentencing Act 1991) — requires background legal navigation.","Seasonal fee structure with detailed peak/shoulder/off-peak definitions and sub-period rules (complex calendar application).","Fees and penalties expressed in fee units and penalty units with Treasurer-set indexation and rounding rules (external computation).","Conditional exemption for members of traditional owner group entities performing 'agreed activities' — creates context-dependent applicability.","Geographic specificity for Upper Yarra Reservoir Park by reference to lodged plan — location-based enforcement.","Administrative requirements for Parks Victoria (overnight booking, fee collection, enforcement) and corresponding compliance burden on visitors.","Multiple offences with differing penalty-unit levels (from 5 to 20 penalty units) requiring calculation for enforcement and prosecution.","Statutory sunset provision (10 years) limiting the temporal scope and requiring future review or renewal."],"plain_english_summary":"Sets rules for reservoir parks land: confines camping to designated campsites, limits stays to 30 consecutive nights and guests per booking, establishes season- and concession‑based fees at Upper Yarra, restricts soap disposal and faecal waste near waterways, and limits fires to contained barbecues or fireplaces with penalties for breaches.\n\nAffects visitors (fees and fines) and Parks Victoria (booking, fee collection, enforcement); traditional owner group members doing agreed cultural activities have limited exemptions. The stated aim is management of camping, fire and fees; it imposes compliance costs and enforcement duties."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation appears tightly scoped to its stated objective of managing camping, fires, and associated fees on reservoir parks land. The traditional owner exemptions and seasonal fee variations are integral to the management scheme rather than scope creep."},"complexity_factors":["19 defined terms in section 4, including complex nested definitions for 'peak season' involving multiple public holidays and school term dates","Seasonal fee structure with 6 different rate combinations (concession/non-concession × three seasons)","Cross-references to 8 other Acts (Water Industry Act 1994, Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010, Public Holidays Act 1993, State Concessions Act 2004, Country Fire Authority Act 1958, Parks Victoria Act 2018, Education and Training Reform Act 2006, Monetary Units Act 2004, Sentencing Act 1991)","Conditional exemptions for traditional owner groups in regulation 5 that modify application of regulations 7 and 10","Dual calculation mechanisms for fees and penalties requiring conversion from 'fee units' and 'penalty units' using separately published values","Geographic specificity requiring reference to a deposited plan (LEGL./11-099) for Upper Yarra Reservoir Park boundaries"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the rules for camping and using fire in Victoria's reservoir parks—specifically the areas around water supply reservoirs managed by Parks Victoria. They require campers to use designated campsites only, limit stays to 30 consecutive nights, and cap group sizes at 6 people per site. For Upper Yarra Reservoir Park specifically, campers must pay fees that vary by season (peak, shoulder, and off-peak) and whether they hold concession cards. The rules also cover practical safety and environmental concerns: you can only use soap/detergent in proper facilities or well away from waterways; you must use toilets where available or bury waste at least 100m from water; fires are only permitted in designated fireplaces or stable barbecues (unless there's a fire ban in place); and you must fully extinguish fires before leaving or when ordered by authorities. Importantly, members of traditional owner groups with formal agreements are exempt from camping fees and cultural fire restrictions."},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Insufficient content was provided to assess whether the scope of this legislation changed from its original intent. Only version history metadata and administrative labels were included in the document — no substantive provisions, explanatory memoranda, or amendment history were available for analysis."},"complexity_factors":["Only metadata was provided — no substantive legal content is available to assess","Regulations (as a legal form) typically sit beneath a parent Act and require understanding of that Act to be fully interpreted","The intersection of water law and land management can involve multiple regulatory bodies, adding potential complexity in the full document","Score is low because no actual rules, definitions, or obligations were present in the provided text to analyse"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation (Statutory Rule 139/2024) is an active Victorian rule about land in and around reservoir parks under the Water Industry Act. The available material is only administrative metadata, so the actual obligations, restrictions, or permissions aren’t shown.\n\nIt may affect reservoir-park visitors, nearby residents, and water authorities, but consult the full text on the Victorian legislation website for any concrete rights or duties."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/water-industry-reservoir-parks-land-regulations-2024","history":"/api/acts/water-industry-reservoir-parks-land-regulations-2024/history","analysis":"/api/acts/water-industry-reservoir-parks-land-regulations-2024/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/water-industry-reservoir-parks-land-regulations-2024/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/water-industry-reservoir-parks-land-regulations-2024/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/water-industry-reservoir-parks-land-regulations-2024/documents"}}