This Act, consisting of 56 sections divided into seven Parts, aims at preserving the natural values of rivers that have all, or almost all, of their natural values intact and provide for the preservation of the natural values of rivers in the Lake Eyre Basin. This shall be done by establishing a framework that includes the declaration of wild river areas that may include the following: (a) high preservation areas; (b) preservation areas; (c) floodplain management areas; (d) special floodplain management areas; and (e) subartesian management areas. This Act, to achieve the abovementioned purpose, shall: regulate particular activities and take natural resources in a wild river and its catchment to preserve the wild river’s natural values; have a precautionary approach to minimize adverse effects on known natural values and reduce the possibility of adversely affecting poorly understood ecological functions; treat a wild river and its catchment as a single entity, linking the condition of the river to the health of the catchment; consider the effect of individual activities and taking of natural resources on a wild river’s natural values and consider the cumulative effect of activities and taking of natural resources affecting a wild river area when further activities or taking are proposed; and encourage preservation of the wild river’s natural values in other States.
Australia · 2005-10-14