sec.24Granting unallocated water from a reserve

sec.24 Granting unallocated water from a reserve

The chief executive may require an applicant for a water licence to take water from an unallocated water reserve to— investigate the likely impact the proposed taking of water may have on the following— the flow of water to groundwater-dependent ecosystems; groundwater pressure and levels; existing water licences and statutory authorisations to take or interfere with water; and carry out— studies relating to the relevant groundwater-dependent ecosystems and the groundwater units connected to the ecosystems; or a hydrogeological assessment; and include the results of the investigation, studies or assessment with the application. If the chief executive grants a water licence for water from an unallocated water reserve, the chief executive may impose conditions on the licence requiring the holder of the licence to— provide and maintain access to alternative water supplies for existing water users who would be significantly adversely affected by the granting of the licence; and carry out and report on a stated monitoring program. However, if granting the water licence will result in the drawdown at a relevant location being more than the maximum drawdown, the chief executive must impose the conditions stated in subsection (2) on the licence. In this section— existing water user means a person authorised under a water licence or statutory authorisation to take or interfere with water. relevant location means a location from which an existing water user is authorised to take water. (sec.24-ssec.1) The chief executive may require an applicant for a water licence to take water from an unallocated water reserve to— investigate the likely impact the proposed taking of water may have on the following— the flow of water to groundwater-dependent ecosystems; groundwater pressure and levels; existing water licences and statutory authorisations to take or interfere with water; and carry out— studies relating to the relevant groundwater-dependent ecosystems and the groundwater units connected to the ecosystems; or a hydrogeological assessment; and include the results of the investigation, studies or assessment with the application. (sec.24-ssec.2) If the chief executive grants a water licence for water from an unallocated water reserve, the chief executive may impose conditions on the licence requiring the holder of the licence to— provide and maintain access to alternative water supplies for existing water users who would be significantly adversely affected by the granting of the licence; and carry out and report on a stated monitoring program. (sec.24-ssec.3) However, if granting the water licence will result in the drawdown at a relevant location being more than the maximum drawdown, the chief executive must impose the conditions stated in subsection (2) on the licence. (sec.24-ssec.4) In this section— existing water user means a person authorised under a water licence or statutory authorisation to take or interfere with water. relevant location means a location from which an existing water user is authorised to take water.