Water Act 2000

An underground water impact report must include each of the following—

for the area to which the report relates—

the quantity of water produced or taken from the area because of the exercise of any previous relevant underground water rights; andExample for paragraph (a)(i)—If the report is prepared by a mining tenure holder before it exercises its underground water rights, the quantity of water produced or taken from the area would be shown in the report as zero.

an estimate of the quantity of water to be produced or taken because of the exercise of the relevant underground water rights for a 5-year period starting on the consultation day for the report;

for each aquifer affected, or likely to be affected, by the exercise of the relevant underground water rights—

a description of the aquifer; and

an analysis of the movement of underground water to and from the aquifer, including how the aquifer interacts with other aquifers; and

an analysis of the trends in water level change for the aquifer because of the exercise of the rights mentioned in paragraph (a)(i); and

a map showing the area of the aquifer where the water level is predicted to decline, because of the taking of the quantities of water mentioned in paragraph (a), by more than the bore trigger threshold within 5 years after the consultation day for the report; and

a map showing the area of the aquifer where the water level is predicted to decline, because of the exercise of relevant underground water rights, by more than the bore trigger threshold at any time;Note—If the underground water impact report or final report is approved, the mapped areas mentioned in subparagraphs (iv) and (v) establish immediately affected and long-term affected areas under section 387.

a description of the methods and techniques used to obtain the information and predictions under paragraph (b);

a summary of information about all water bores in the area shown on a map mentioned in paragraph (b)(iv), including the number of bores, and the location and authorised use or purpose of each bore;

a description of the impacts on environmental values that have occurred, or are likely to occur, because of any previous exercise of underground water rights;

an assessment of the likely impacts on environmental values that will occur, or are likely to occur, because of the exercise of underground water rights—

during the period mentioned in paragraph (a)(ii); and

over the projected life of the resource tenure;

a program for—

conducting an annual review of the accuracy of each map prepared under paragraph (b)(iv) and (v); and

giving the chief executive a summary of the outcome of each review, including a statement of whether there has been a material change in the information or predictions used to prepare the maps;

a water monitoring strategy;

a spring impact management strategy;

if the report relates to a cumulative management area—a baseline assessment strategy;

if the responsible entity is the office—

a proposed responsible tenure holder for each report obligation mentioned in the report; and

for each immediately affected area—the proposed responsible tenure holder or holders who must comply with any make good obligations for water bores within the immediately affected area;

other information or matters prescribed under a regulation.

However, if the underground water impact report does not show any predicted water level decline in any area of an affected aquifer by more than the bore trigger threshold during the period mentioned in subsection (1)(b)(iv) or at any time as mentioned in subsection (1)(b)(v), the report does not have to include the program mentioned in subsection (1)(e).

In this section—environmental value see the Environmental Protection Act 1994, section 9.