8Functions and duties of the Minister

8 Functions and duties of the Minister

(1)  The functions and duties of the Minister under this Act are –

(a) to manage the water resources of Tasmania in accordance with the objectives of this Act; and

(b) to develop and coordinate policies relating to the sustainable use and development of those water resources; and

(c) [Section 8 Subsection (1) amended by No. 49 of 2002, s. 5, Applied:01 Mar 2003] to allocate the water available from watercourses, lakes and wells and dispersed surface water in a manner consistent with the objectives of this Act; and

(d) to compile, maintain and update information in respect of the water resources of Tasmania; and

(e) to promote public awareness of the importance of Tasmania's water resources and to encourage the conservation of those resources; and

(f) [Section 8 Subsection (1) amended by No. 33 of 2015, s. 6, Applied:01 Jan 2016] to encourage community involvement in water resource management; and

(g) [Section 8 Subsection (1) amended by No. 33 of 2015, s. 6, Applied:01 Jan 2016] any other functions and duties imposed on the Minister by this Act, including, but not limited to, functions and duties imposed under Part 8 in relation to dam works.

(2)  When making a decision under this Act that is based wholly or partly on an assessment of the quantity of water available or the period or periods during which water is available from a water resource, the Minister must take into account –

(a) [Section 8 Subsection (2) amended by No. 12 of 2004, s. 5, Applied:09 Jun 2004] the needs of the major ecosystems that depend on that water resource for water; and

(b) any effect that the decision may have on the commercial operations of major users of water from that water resource.