Water Management Act 1999

On the application of a water entity to which this Division applies or a group of landowners in accordance with this Division, the Minister may appoint, name and define – a water supply district; or an irrigation district; or a riverworks district; or a drainage district – so as to give a water entity administrative control of, and responsibility for, that water district.

A water district referred to in subsection (1) may be defined as – the whole or part of a catchment area of a certain watercourse or lake; or a specified area of land.

A riverworks district may not include – permanent timber production zone land within the meaning of the Forest Management Act 2013; or Crown land subject to a forest permit under the Forest Management Act 2013; or land acquired by the Crown for the purposes of forestry – unless the notice is expressed to be made with the agreement of the Minister having the administration of the Forest Management Act 2013.

If a proposed water district is wholly or partly within an existing water district, the Minister – must consult with the water entity administering the existing district on the application for the establishment of the water district; and must not establish the water district if it would have a material adverse effect on the administration of the existing district.