Water Management Act 1999

Subject to subsection (2), after considering an application for a watercourse authority the Minister may – approve the application; or refuse the application.

The application must be approved if the Minister is reasonably satisfied that issuing the watercourse authority – would be consistent with the objectives of this Act and any relevant water management plan; and would not result in material or serious environmental harm or environmental nuisance; and would not have a significant adverse impact on other persons taking water from the relevant water resource or on the commercial operations of a major user of water from that water resource; and would not adversely impact on public safety.

If subsection (1)(b) applies, the Minister is to notify the applicant as soon as practicable of – the refusal; and the reasons for the refusal.