42Catchment audits

42 Catchment audits

42 Catchment audits

(1) The Minister—

(a) must appoint a public authority or other person to be the appointed auditor to carry out functions under this section in relation to the Sydney catchment area, and

(b) may appoint a public authority or other person to be the appointed auditor to carry out functions under this section in relation any other declared catchment area.

(2) The appointed auditor must—

(a) conduct an audit (a catchment audit) of the catchment health of the declared catchment area, and

(b) present a report on that audit to the Minister.

(3) The catchment audit must assess the state of the declared catchment area having regard to the catchment health indicators approved under section 41 for the area, as in force at the time of the assessment.

(4) A catchment audit for the Sydney catchment area must be conducted, and a report presented to the Minister on that audit (the initial report), no more than 3 years after the day on which section 4 commences. Subsequent audits must be conducted, and reports must be presented to the Minister on those audits, at intervals of no more than 3 years calculated from the day the initial report is presented.

(5) A catchment audit for a declared catchment area other than the Sydney catchment area must be conducted, and a report presented to the Minister, within the period specified by the Minister.

(6) The Minister is to table the report (or cause it to be tabled) in both Houses of Parliament within one month after the Minister receives the report.

(7) The Minister is to forward a copy of the report of a catchment audit to Water NSW as soon as practicable after the report is received.