Introduction
Modernising the regulation of water is an important element of
the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines'
(Department) water business transformation
project. The Department has undertaken a strategic review of the
Water Act 2000 (Qld) (Water Act) to
identify opportunities to improve all aspects of its water business
with the object of providing for 'responsible development of
water resources'1. To that end, in early July, the
Department released a Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement
(Consultation RIS) to detail the proposed State
wide reforms.
According to the Consultation RIS, the objective of the reforms
is to 'responsibly accelerate the economic productivity of
water related development in Queensland by reducing regulatory
burden and red tape'. Key priorities of the reforms are
certainty, security and reliability of the State's water
supply.
