Water Plan (Barron) 2023

This section applies to an application made under section 107 of the Act for a water licence, or an application made under section 121 of the Act for a dealing with a water licence, to take underground water in the Cairns Northern Beaches underground water management area, if granting the application would increase the volume of underground water authorised to be taken.

For section 43(2)(h) of the Act, the criteria for deciding the application are—

the availability of an alternative water supply for the purpose for which the water is required; and

the efficiency of existing and proposed water use practices; and

whether the proposed taking is likely to have a direct adverse effect on surface water flows; and

the cumulative impact of taking underground water on surface water flows and underground water flows; and

existing water entitlements and authorities to take or interfere with water in the Cairns Northern Beaches underground water management area; and

any information about the effects of taking, or interfering with, water on natural ecosystems generally, including the impact of seawater intrusion; and

any information about the effects of taking, or interfering with, water on the physical integrity of watercourses, lakes, springs or aquifers generally; and

any information about the effects of taking, or interfering with, water on cultural values.

Subsection (2) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.