68Minister may request Authority to prepare water resource plan

68  Minister may request Authority to prepare water resource plan

 (1) The Minister may request the Authority to prepare a water resource plan for a water resource plan area if:

 (a) subsection (2), (3), (4) or (5) is satisfied; and

 (b) the requirements of Division 3 are satisfied.

This subsection does not apply to a water resource plan area if a transitional water resource plan is in effect in relation to the area under Part 11.

 (2) This subsection is satisfied if the Basin State in which the area is located does not give the Authority a water resource plan for the area under section 63 in accordance with the regulations made for the purposes of subsection 63(9).

 (3) This subsection is satisfied if:

 (a) the Basin State in which the area is located gives the Authority a water resource plan for the area under section 63; and

 (b) the Minister decides under subsection 63(5) not to accredit the water resource plan because the water resource plan is not consistent with the Basin Plan.

 (4) This subsection is satisfied if:

 (a) a water resource plan for the area is accredited under section 63; and

 (b) a review of the water resource plan is undertaken under:

 (i) a State water management law; or

 (ii) the water resource plan itself; and

 (c) the report of the review recommends that the water resource plan be amended; and

 (d) the Basin State in which the area is located does not give the Authority an amendment of the water resource plan under section 65 within a reasonable time after the recommendation is made.

 (5) This subsection is satisfied if:

 (a) a water resource plan for the area is accredited under section 63; and

 (b) there is a review of the water resource plan; and

 (c) the report of the review recommends that the water resource plan be amended; and

 (d) the Basin State in which the area is located gives the Authority an amendment of the water resource plan under section 65; and

 (e) the Minister decides under subsection 65(5) not to accredit the amendment because the amendment is not consistent with the Basin Plan.

 (6) If the Minister requests the Authority to prepare a water resource plan for a water resource plan area under subsection (1), the Authority must:

 (a) prepare a water resource plan for the area in accordance with the process set out in the regulations; and

 (b) give the water resource plan to the Minister for adoption.

 (7) In preparing the water resource plan, the Authority must have regard to the requirements of the laws of the Basin State in which the water resource plan area is located.