AgForce fronts Parliamentary Committee on water reforms

Yesterday AgForce representatives addressed the Queensland Parliamentary Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee.

They are examining the Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 introduced by Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Anthony Lynham late last year.

The Bill is intended to align reforms to the Water Act 2000 by the previous state government with the policies of the new Labor government.

This included reinserting the principles of ecologically sustainable development into the purpose of the Water Act, omitting the Water Development Option which was to provide large scale project proponents with guaranteed access to water if they passed environmental assessments, and omitting provisions that allow for deregulating of some upper watercourses.

With some provisos these changes were seen to be consistent with providing reliable, secure and sustainable access to water for agriculture.

AgForce also called for a science-based, precautionary approach to firstly avoiding and then proactively managing the risks of resource sector impacts on water resources and tabled a detailed paper on improvements to the 'make good' provisions within the Water Act which should only apply where there are unavoidable impacts.

AgForce's submission to the Bill is available here and the paper on make good is available here.

Emanate has a wealth of experience and is across all facets regarding the environment. We are readily able to draft and deliver a submission on your behalf and in your best interests. Contact Emanate today so that we can assist you with your query or submission request.

Source: http://www.agforceqld.org.au/edm/index.php?story=6748&id=1697205


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