Water Management Act 1999

Subject to subsection (4), after considering an application to register an offset, the Secretary may – approve the application; or refuse to approve the application.

The Secretary is to register in the offsets register an offset to which an application for registration relates, unless subsection (4) applies in relation to the application.

The registration of an offset in the register is to include any conditions, required to ensure the offset is carried out, that the Secretary determines and specifies in the registration.

The Secretary must not approve an application for registration if – the Secretary considers that the offset does not meet the requirements in relation to an offset that are required, by a condition of the permit to which the offset relates, to be met; or approval to register the offset has not been obtained in accordance with section 164Q(2)(b).

The Secretary is to notify the affected permit holder, in writing, of the decision of the Secretary under subsection (1) in relation to an application to register an offset, as soon as reasonably practicable after making the decision.