Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984

For the purposes of the Minister’s functions under this Act or a relevant Act the Minister, subject to Part VI, may —

enter upon any land, street, premises or thing and acquire, provide or construct wells, reservoirs, dams and such other works as in the Minister’s opinion may be required for the purposes of the conservation or management of water; and

carry out such other works including the construction of premises and provision of facilities as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act or any relevant Act.

Without limiting the generality of subsection (1a) the Minister, for the purposes of this Act or a relevant Act, may —

exercise the powers conferred by sections 82, 83A, 93, and 94 of the Public Works Act 1902 and Division 4 of Part 9 of the Land Administration Act 1997, save that those sections shall be read and construed as though —

a reference therein to the Minister administering that Act or that Part were a reference to the Minister; and

the provisions of this Act relating to entry on to land and the giving of notice had effect in substitution for the provisions of the Land Administration Act 1997 and the Public Works Act 1902 relating to those matters,

to ascertain the existence, nature and extent of water resources including underground water resources; and

to formulate schemes for the provision, extension or alteration of water services; and

to determine the feasibility and requirements of works or proposed works; and

to survey or demarcate land;

for the purposes of this section —

drain, pump, excavate or otherwise remove any water, soil or obstruction; or

remove or use any earth, rock, trees and other things taken from any land; or

take water, soil or other samples; or

acquire, provide, remove or reconstruct buildings, pumps and other structures or plant; or

open, or alter the position of, any pipe, sewer, drain, channel, tunnel, wire or other fitting or apparatus within or under any land, including any street or premises; or

remove, or make a gate in, or erect, any fence (taking all reasonable steps to notify the owner and occupier of the land on which, or on the boundary of which, the fence is, or is to be, erected).

In the exercise of the powers conferred by this section the Minister shall ensure that so far as is reasonable and practicable —

the free use of any land, street or premises is not obstructed; and

as little detriment or inconvenience is caused and as little damage is done as is possible,