Water Management Act 2000

The Minister may, by order published on the NSW legislation website, make a plan (a Minister’s plan)—

for any part of the State that is not within a water management area, or

for any water management area or water source, or part of a water management area or water source, for which a management plan is not in force, or

for any water management area or water source, or part of a water management area or water source, for which a management plan is in force, but only so as to deal with matters not dealt with by the management plan.

A Minister’s plan may be made for more than one water management area or water source or for parts of more than one water management area or water source.

A Minister’s plan must in general terms deal with any matters that a management plan is required to deal with, and may also deal with any other matters that a management plan is authorised to deal with, other than matters that are already dealt with by a management plan.

Part 3 (except sections 15 and 36–41) applies to a Minister’s plan. However, the Minister—

may adopt any of the provisions of sections 36–41 in a particular case, and

may dispense with a particular requirement of Part 3 in the case of a Minister’s plan referred to in subsection (1A).

Before making a Minister’s plan, the Minister must obtain the concurrence of the Minister for the Environment to the making of the plan.

Except to the extent to which this Act otherwise provides, a Minister’s plan has the same effect as a management plan.

The Minister may decide whether to make a Minister’s plan or a management plan in respect of any matter (whether or not any draft management plan has been submitted to the Minister).