sec.18Matters to be considered for environmental management rules

sec.18 Matters to be considered for environmental management rules

In deciding the environmental management rules to be included in the resource operations plan, the chief executive must consider— the streamflows required to maintain the following— the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area; the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features; the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows; the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota; groundwater flows; the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses; the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and the impact the taking of, or proposed taking of, or interfering with, water may have on the following— water quality; the natural movement of sediment; the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake; the inundation of habitats; the movement of fish and other aquatic animals; the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area; cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities. Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider. (sec.18-ssec.1) In deciding the environmental management rules to be included in the resource operations plan, the chief executive must consider— the streamflows required to maintain the following— the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area; the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features; the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows; the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota; groundwater flows; the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses; the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and the impact the taking of, or proposed taking of, or interfering with, water may have on the following— water quality; the natural movement of sediment; the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake; the inundation of habitats; the movement of fish and other aquatic animals; the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area; cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities. (sec.18-ssec.2) Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.

• (a) the streamflows required to maintain the following— (i) the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area; (ii) the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features; (iii) the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows; (iv) the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota; (v) groundwater flows; (vi) the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses; (vii) the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and