The Court held that s 6.6(2)(b) of the BC SEPP requires minimisation of impact on water flow in a natural waterbody in absolute terms — meaning reduction to the smallest possible degree — and does not permit a lesser standard merely because downstream hydrological modelling shows no measurable change to the receiving waterway. The word 'impact' in s 6.6(2)(b) does not require an 'adverse' or 'significant' impact; any increase in flows to a natural waterbody constitutes an impact that must be minimised. The Court rejected cost and practicability as relevant considerations under s 6.6(2)(b), but granted consent subject to conditions requiring a compliant 600m³ OSD tank, which both parties agreed would satisfy the jurisdictional precondition.
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