Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

WATER ACT 2007 - SECT 69

  (1)   Within 60 days after the Authority gives the Minister a water resource plan for a water resource plan area under paragraph   68(6)(b), the Minister must:

  (a)   consider the water resource plan; and

  (b)   either:

  (i)   adopt the water resource plan; or

  (ii)   give the water resource plan back to the Authority with suggestions for consideration by the Authority.

  (2)   If the Minister gives the water resource plan back to the Authority with suggestions, the Authority must:

  (a)   consider the suggestions; and

  (b)   undertake such consultations in relation to the suggestions as the Authority considers necessary or appropriate; and

  (c)   give the Minister either:

  (i)   an identical version of the water resource plan; or

  (ii)   an altered version of the water resource plan;

    together with the Authority's views on the Minister's suggestions; and

  (d)   prepare a document that summarises:

  (i)   any submissions it received in response to the consultations referred to in paragraph   (b); and

  (ii)   how it addressed those submissions; and

  (iii)   the extent (if any) to which its consideration of those submissions has affected the version or views given to the Minister under paragraph   (c).

  (3)   Within 30 days after the Authority gives the Minister a version of the water resource plan under subsection   (2), the Minister must:

  (a)   consider that version of the water resource plan and the views given to the Minister under subsection   (2); and

  (b)   either:

  (i)   adopt that version of the water resource plan; or

  (ii)   direct the Authority, in writing, to make modifications to that version of the water resource plan and give it to the Minister for adoption.

  (4)   A direction under subparagraph   (3)(b)(ii) is not a legislative instrument.

  (5)   The Minister must not give a direction under subparagraph   (3)(b)(ii) in relation to any aspect of the water resource plan that is of a factual or scientific nature.

  (6)   If the Minister gives a direction under subparagraph   (3)(b)(ii):

  (a)   the Authority must comply with the direction; and

  (b)   the Minister must adopt the water resource plan given to the Minister in compliance with the direction.

  (7)   When the water resource plan is laid before a House of the Parliament under the Legislation Act 2003 , the Minister must also lay before that House a document that sets out:

  (a)   any direction the Minister gave under subparagraph   (3)(b)(ii) in relation to the water resource plan; and

  (b)   the Minister's reasons for giving that direction.