Water Plan (Gulf) 2007

This section applies to an existing water licence to take groundwater in the Nicholson groundwater management area or the Einasleigh groundwater management area that does not state the maximum annual volume of water that may be taken under the licence.

The chief executive may, under section 217 of the Act, amend the licence to state an annual volumetric limit.

In deciding the annual volumetric limit, the chief executive must have regard to the following—

the conditions of the licence;

the efficiency of the current use of water having regard to industry best practice in efficient water use;

the impact the taking is having on—

the flow of water to watercourses or springs; and

groundwater levels;

the annual volume of water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken under the licence immediately before 17 October 2003;

the impact the taking is having on water entitlements and other authorities to take or interfere with water;

the availability of an alternative water supply for the purpose for which the water is being taken;

the total annual volumetric limits for water licences in the area;

if the holder of the licence has undertaken a pumping test for the existing bore or bores to which the licence relates—the results of the test.