New water legislation has taken effect

This is an update on recent amendments made to water-related legislation and its effect on both petroleum and mining tenement holders.

Amendments to the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 (PG Act) and the Water Act 2000 are now in force. These amendments will change the way resource authority holders take or interfere with surface and underground water.

Some of the key amendments are:

For petroleum tenure holders:

• Petroleum tenure holders now have authority under the PG Act to use associated water for any purpose. Previously, the use of such water was restricted to using it for another authorised activity, or providing it to an owner or occupier of overlapping or adjoining land for stock or domestic purposes. Previously, use for any other purposes required a water licence under the Water Act. Use of associated water is now authorised for any purpose under the PG Act, and a separate water licence is no longer required.