Water Management Act 1999

The functions and duties of the Minister under this Act are – to manage the water resources of Tasmania in accordance with the objectives of this Act; and to develop and coordinate policies relating to the sustainable use and development of those water resources; and to allocate the water available from watercourses, lakes and wells and dispersed surface water in a manner consistent with the objectives of this Act; and to compile, maintain and update information in respect of the water resources of Tasmania; and to promote public awareness of the importance of Tasmania's water resources and to encourage the conservation of those resources; and to encourage community involvement in water resource management; and any other functions and duties imposed on the Minister by this Act, including, but not limited to, functions and duties imposed under Part 8 in relation to dam works.

When making a decision under this Act that is based wholly or partly on an assessment of the quantity of water available or the period or periods during which water is available from a water resource, the Minister must take into account – the needs of the major ecosystems that depend on that water resource for water; and any effect that the decision may have on the commercial operations of major users of water from that water resource.