New water legislation has taken effect - UPDATE

This is a follow up to our Alert of 21 May 2013.

Please note that only the following amendments were in force at the date of the Alert:

• 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.
• The amendments clarify that pipelines carrying produced water free of petroleum will be regulated under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, and those carrying produced water that contain traces of petroleum will be regulated under the PG Act.