QLDIn ForceAct
Water Act 2000
sec.2Purposes of Act and their achievement
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### sec.2 Purposes of Act and their achievement
The main purposes of this Act are to provide a framework for the following—
the sustainable management of Queensland’s water resources and quarry material by establishing a system for—
the planning, allocation and use of water; and
the allocation of quarry material and riverine protection;
the sustainable and secure water supply and demand management for the south-east Queensland region and other designated regions;
the management of impacts on underground water caused by the exercise of underground water rights by the resource sector;
the effective operation of water authorities.
For subsection (1) (a) , sustainable management is management that—
incorporates the principles of ecologically sustainable development; and
allows for the allocation and use of water resources and quarry material for the economic, physical and social wellbeing of the people of Queensland, within limits that can be sustained indefinitely; and
sustains the health of ecosystems, water quality, water-dependent ecological processes and biological diversity associated with watercourses, lakes, springs, aquifers and other natural water systems, including, where practicable, reversing degradation that has occurred; and
recognises the interests of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders and their connection with water resources; and
enables water resources and quarry material to be obtained through fair, transparent and orderly processes to support the economic development of Queensland; and
builds confidence regarding the availability, security and value of water entitlements and other authorisations; and
promotes the efficient use of water through—
the establishment and operation of water markets; or
the initial allocation of water; or
the regulation of water use if there is a risk of land or water degradation; or
increasing community understanding of the need to use and manage water in a sustainable way; and
facilitates the community taking an active part in planning for the management and allocation of water.
For subsection (2) (g) , the efficient use of water —
incorporates water demand management and water conservation measures; or
considers the volume and quality of water required for particular circumstances, including release into the environment.
s 2 amd 2001 No. 75 s 4 (retro)
sub 2014 No. 64 s 59 (amd 2016 No. 60 s 12 )
(sec.2-ssec.1) The main purposes of this Act are to provide a framework for the following— the sustainable management of Queensland’s water resources and quarry material by establishing a system for— the planning, allocation and use of water; and the allocation of quarry material and riverine protection; the sustainable and secure water supply and demand management for the south-east Queensland region and other designated regions; the management of impacts on underground water caused by the exercise of underground water rights by the resource sector; the effective operation of water authorities.
(sec.2-ssec.2) For subsection (1) (a) , sustainable management is management that— incorporates the principles of ecologically sustainable development; and allows for the allocation and use of water resources and quarry material for the economic, physical and social wellbeing of the people of Queensland, within limits that can be sustained indefinitely; and sustains the health of ecosystems, water quality, water-dependent ecological processes and biological diversity associated with watercourses, lakes, springs, aquifers and other natural water systems, including, where practicable, reversing degradation that has occurred; and recognises the interests of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders and their connection with water resources; and enables water resources and quarry material to be obtained through fair, transparent and orderly processes to support the economic development of Queensland; and builds confidence regarding the availability, security and value of water entitlements and other authorisations; and promotes the efficient use of water through— the establishment and operation of water markets; or the initial allocation of water; or the regulation of water use if there is a risk of land or water degradation; or increasing community understanding of the need to use and manage water in a sustainable way; and facilitates the community taking an active part in planning for the management and allocation of water.
(sec.2-ssec.3) For subsection (2) (g) , the efficient use of water — incorporates water demand management and water conservation measures; or considers the volume and quality of water required for particular circumstances, including release into the environment.
- (a) the sustainable management of Queensland’s water resources and quarry material by establishing a system for— (i) the planning, allocation and use of water; and (ii) the allocation of quarry material and riverine protection;
- (i) the planning, allocation and use of water; and
- (ii) the allocation of quarry material and riverine protection;
- (b) the sustainable and secure water supply and demand management for the south-east Queensland region and other designated regions;
- (c) the management of impacts on underground water caused by the exercise of underground water rights by the resource sector;
- (d) the effective operation of water authorities.
- (i) the planning, allocation and use of water; and
- (ii) the allocation of quarry material and riverine protection;
- (a) incorporates the principles of ecologically sustainable development; and
- (b) allows for the allocation and use of water resources and quarry material for the economic, physical and social wellbeing of the people of Queensland, within limits that can be sustained indefinitely; and
- (c) sustains the health of ecosystems, water quality, water-dependent ecological processes and biological diversity associated with watercourses, lakes, springs, aquifers and other natural water systems, including, where practicable, reversing degradation that has occurred; and
- (d) recognises the interests of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders and their connection with water resources; and
- (e) enables water resources and quarry material to be obtained through fair, transparent and orderly processes to support the economic development of Queensland; and
- (f) builds confidence regarding the availability, security and value of water entitlements and other authorisations; and
- (g) promotes the efficient use of water through— (i) the establishment and operation of water markets; or (ii) the initial allocation of water; or (iii) the regulation of water use if there is a risk of land or water degradation; or (iv) increasing community understanding of the need to use and manage water in a sustainable way; and
- (i) the establishment and operation of water markets; or
- (ii) the initial allocation of water; or
- (iii) the regulation of water use if there is a risk of land or water degradation; or
- (iv) increasing community understanding of the need to use and manage water in a sustainable way; and
- (h) facilitates the community taking an active part in planning for the management and allocation of water.
- (i) the establishment and operation of water markets; or
- (ii) the initial allocation of water; or
- (iii) the regulation of water use if there is a risk of land or water degradation; or
- (iv) increasing community understanding of the need to use and manage water in a sustainable way; and
- (a) incorporates water demand management and water conservation measures; or
- (b) considers the volume and quality of water required for particular circumstances, including release into the environment.