Water Resources Act 2007

The Minister must determine—

the total amount of surface water that is available for taking in each water management area; and

the total amount of ground water that is available for taking in each water management area.

The amounts must be determined taking into account—

the environmental flow guidelines; and

the total water resources of the Territory; and

any assessment undertaken by the director-general to establish sustainable yields for the water management area.

However, the amount determined must not be more than—

for subsection (1) (a)—the SDL for surface water; and

for subsection (1) (b)—the SDL for ground water.

The Minister may also determine, for any water management area, an amount of the water determined under subsection (1) that is to be reserved for future use.

If the Minister makes a determination reducing the amount of water reserved for future use under subsection (4), the determination may state the reason for the reduction.

A determination under this section is a disallowable instrument.

In this section:

Basin Plan means the Basin Plan made under the Water Act 2007 (Cwlth), section 44 (3) (b) (i).

SDL for ground water means the long-term average sustainable diversion limit for ground water for the ACT set out in the Basin Plan.

SDL for surface water means the long-term average sustainable diversion limit for surface water for the ACT set out in the Basin Plan.