Div 4AAnnual progress reports relating to water recovery targets and to the Snowy Scheme

Division 4A—Annual progress reports relating to water recovery targets and to the Snowy Scheme 85AB  Secretary to prepare annual reports  (1) The Secretary must prepare an annual report on the activities undertaken for the purpose of making progress towards the following:  (a) increasing the volume of the Basin water resources that is available for environmental use by 450 gigalitres;  (b) the Commonwealth’s water recovery target in relation to SDL resource units (as defined in the Basin Plan);  (c) projects that relate to adjustments of long‑term average sustainable diversion limits under section 23A;  (d) any other matter specified by the Minister in writing.  (1A) If, during a financial year, the Minister approved one or more programs (however described) in relation to which the Minister was required to consider the social and economic impact under section 86ADB, the report under subsection (1) for that financial year must include:  (a) a description of the program or programs concerned; and  (b) the matters that the Minister took into account in undertaking that consideration. Note: The kinds of matters taken into account by the Minister under paragraph (b) could include any social and economic impacts raised in the course of consultation, and any social and economic impacts of transitional support the Government has provided or is providing.  (2) The Secretary must prepare a report under subsection (1) in relation to:  (b) each subsequent financial year up to and including the financial year beginning on 1 July 2027.  (3) The Secretary must provide each report under subsection (1) in relation to a financial year to the Minister by 30 October in the following financial year.  (4) The Minister must cause a copy of each report under subsection (1) to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report. 85ABA  Secretary to prepare annual reports about water releases from the Snowy Scheme  (1)  The Secretary must prepare an annual report on the release of water for environmental use from the Snowy Scheme.  (2) A report under subsection (1) must include the details mentioned in subsection (3), in relation to the release of water for environmental use during each period of 12 months beginning on 1 May (a water year), from the following:  (a)  the Snowy River below Jindabyne Dam;  (b) the Snowy River below Guthega Dam via Falls Creek Aqueduct;  (c) the Snowy River below Island Bend Dam via Tolbar Creek Aqueduct and Diggers Creek Aqueduct;  (d) the Upper Murrumbidgee River below Tantangara Dam;  (e) the Goodradigbee River below Goodradigbee Aqueduct;  (f) the Geehi River below Geehi Dam via Middle Creek and Strzelecki Creek;  (g) the River Murray via the Snowy‑Murray Development and Hume Dam.  (3) The report must include the following:  (a) targets for releases of water for environmental use;  (b) actual releases of water for environmental use;  (c) the seasonal timing and volume of releases of water for environmental use;  (d) the environmental objectives that the releases of water were intended to achieve;  (e) any changes to the governance and regulatory arrangements outlined in the report as required by subsection (4).  (4) The first report under subsection (1) must also include a general outline of the governance and regulatory arrangements relating to the Snowy Scheme.  (5)  The Secretary must prepare a report under subsection (1) in relation to:  (a) the water year beginning on 1 May 2023; and  (b)  each subsequent water year.  (6) The Secretary must provide each report under subsection (1) in relation to a water year by 30 October in the following water year.  (7)  The Minister must cause a copy of each report under subsection (1) to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report.  (8)  In this section, Snowy Scheme has the same meaning as in the Murray‑Darling Basin Agreement. Division 4B—Increasing water for environmental use by 450 gigalitres 85AC  Minister must increase water for environmental use   The Minister must take all reasonable steps to increase the volume of the Basin water resources that is available for environmental use by 450 gigalitres per year before the end of 31 December 2027. Note 1: This obligation does not detract from the Commonwealth’s ability to achieve any surface water recovery targets that it has set for itself. Note 2: The Basin Plan refers to the addition of 450 gigalitres per year of environmental water above the 2750 gigalitre benchmark conditions of development (see paragraph 7.09(e) of the Basin Plan). Note 3: The Minister can increase the volume of water available for environmental use, for example, by entering into arrangements on behalf of the Commonwealth to purchase water access rights (see section 86AF). Division 6—Reports about activities relating to Indigenous people