This Act makes provision with respect to the management and conservation of water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin and related matters. Objects of the Act include: to ensure the return to environmentally sustainable levels of extraction for water resources; and to protect, restore and provide for the ecological values and ecosystem services of the Murray-Darling Basin taking into account, in particular, the impact that the taking of water has on the watercourses, lakes, wetlands, groundwater and water-dependent ecosystems that are part of the Basin water resources and on associated biodiversity. These and other objects are to be reflected in the Basin Plan to be prepared by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, established under this Act, and adopted by the Minister. There shall also be water resource plans for particular water resource plan areas. The Act further, among other things: provides for functions and powers of the Authority and its organizational structure; provides with respect to reporting obligations of Basin States, audits by National Water Commission and the creation of the Murray-Darling Basin Water Rights Information Service for registrable water rights; defines basin water charges and water market rules; and establishes the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder. This Agency shall, on behalf of the Commonwealth: (a) manage the Commonwealth environmental water holdings; and (b) administer the Environmental Water Holdings Special Account. Commonwealth environmental water holdings are water access rights, water delivery rights, irrigation rights held by the Commonwealth and interests in such rights.
Австралия · 2007-09-03