22BRestriction or suspension of rights held under licences etc during periods of water shortage

22B Restriction or suspension of rights held under licences etc during periods of water shortage

22B Restriction or suspension of rights held under licences etc during periods of water shortage

(1) If at any time the Ministerial Corporation is satisfied that the quantity of water available, or likely to be available, in a river, lake or section of a river is insufficient to meet all requirements with respect to the taking of water from the river, lake or section, it may, in the manner provided in this section, restrict or suspend the rights held under licences, group licences, authorities or permits issued under this Part, or held under section 7, for the taking of water for any purpose from the river, lake or section or any part of the river, lake or section.

(2) Particulars of any restrictions or suspensions imposed by the Ministerial Corporation under subsection (1) shall be notified in the Gazette and in such other manner as the Ministerial Corporation is satisfied is likely to bring those particulars to the attention of members of the public in the district in which the river, lake or section is located.

(3) A notification made under subsection (2) may be amended, altered, modified or cancelled by the Ministerial Corporation and particulars of any such amendment, alteration, modification or cancellation shall be notified in the Gazette and in such other manner as the Ministerial Corporation is satisfied is likely to bring those particulars to the attention of members of the public in the district in which the river, lake or section is located.

(4) In imposing restrictions or suspensions under this section, the Ministerial Corporation may restrict or suspend rights for the taking of water in accordance with the following order of priority—

(a) firstly, rights under permits for any purpose other than domestic and stock supply,

(b) secondly, rights under licences, group licences and authorities for the purpose of irrigation,

(c) thirdly, rights under licences, group licences and authorities for purposes other than irrigation and domestic and town and village water supply, rights under permits for stock supply and rights held under section 7 for the taking of water for stock supply, and

(d) fourthly, rights under licences, group licences, authorities and permits for domestic purposes and town and village water supply and rights held under section 7 for the taking of water for domestic purposes.