Water Management Act 2000

If satisfied that there is an extreme event in relation to a particular Basin management area or part of the Basin water resources, the Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, suspend the operation of any Basin management plan, either in whole or in part, in relation to that or any other Basin management area or water source or part of a water source that is part of the Basin water resources.

Before suspending the operation of a Basin management plan in relation to a Basin management area or part of the Basin water resources, the Minister must obtain the concurrence of the Minister for the Environment.

As soon as practicable after an order under this section is published in the Gazette, a copy of the order must be published—

in the authorised manner, or

on a publicly accessible website that, in the opinion of the Minister, is appropriate for the publication of orders of that kind.

An order under this section expires (unless sooner revoked) at the end of 30 June following the date on which it is made or, if made on or after 1 April in any year, at the end of 30 June of the following year.

An order may not be made under this section in relation to a Basin management plan that has, at any time during the previous 12 months, been subject to an order under this section or section 49A unless the Minister is satisfied, for reasons specified in the order, that there is no need for the plan to be amended under Division 9.

Except as provided by subsection (5), this section does not prevent a Basin management area or part of the Basin water resources from being the subject of an order under section 49A.