The Water Act 2007 provides for water charge and water market rules to be made to regulate the water market and water charges across the Murray-Darling Basin. The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities is required to seek, and have regard to, advice from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in making, amending or revoking the water charge and market rules.
The key features of the Act are:
• The Act establishes the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) with the functions and powers, including enforcement powers, needed to ensure that Basin water resources are managed in an integrated and sustainable way.
• The Act requires the MDBA to prepare the Basin Plan - a strategic plan for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin.
• The Act establishes a Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to manage the Commonwealth's environmental water to protect and restore the environmental assets of the Murray-Darling Basin, and outside the Basin where the Commonwealth owns water.
• The Act provides the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) with a key role in developing and enforcing water charge and water market rules along the lines agreed in the National Water Initiative.
The Act gives the Bureau of Meteorology water information functions that are in addition to its existing functions under the Meteorology Act 1955.
The Murray-Darling Basin Plan delivers on the Australian Government's commitment to restore the Basin's rivers and wetlands to health while supporting strong regional communities and sustainable food production.
As part of Murray-Darling Basin reforms, the Australian Government is acquiring water entitlements with the objective of returning more water to the environment. These entitlements become part of the Commonwealth environmental water holdings and are managed so that increased flows are provided to rivers and wetlands. The water is acquired through direct buybacks of water entitlements from irrigators as well as savings from infrastructure upgrades.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is required to use its holdings to protect or restore environmental assets of the Murray-Darling Basin, and other areas outside the Basin where the Commonwealth holds water, so as to give effect to relevant international agreements.
Water that is held in the Murray-Darling Basin is required to be managed in accordance with the environmental watering plan, part of the Basin Plan being developed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority in consultation with state governments and stakeholders.
Source: http://www.environment.gov.au, "AU Water Leadership and Legislation"
The key features of the Act are:
• The Act establishes the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) with the functions and powers, including enforcement powers, needed to ensure that Basin water resources are managed in an integrated and sustainable way.
• The Act requires the MDBA to prepare the Basin Plan - a strategic plan for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin.
• The Act establishes a Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder to manage the Commonwealth's environmental water to protect and restore the environmental assets of the Murray-Darling Basin, and outside the Basin where the Commonwealth owns water.
• The Act provides the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) with a key role in developing and enforcing water charge and water market rules along the lines agreed in the National Water Initiative.
The Act gives the Bureau of Meteorology water information functions that are in addition to its existing functions under the Meteorology Act 1955.
The Murray-Darling Basin Plan delivers on the Australian Government's commitment to restore the Basin's rivers and wetlands to health while supporting strong regional communities and sustainable food production.
As part of Murray-Darling Basin reforms, the Australian Government is acquiring water entitlements with the objective of returning more water to the environment. These entitlements become part of the Commonwealth environmental water holdings and are managed so that increased flows are provided to rivers and wetlands. The water is acquired through direct buybacks of water entitlements from irrigators as well as savings from infrastructure upgrades.
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder is required to use its holdings to protect or restore environmental assets of the Murray-Darling Basin, and other areas outside the Basin where the Commonwealth holds water, so as to give effect to relevant international agreements.
Water that is held in the Murray-Darling Basin is required to be managed in accordance with the environmental watering plan, part of the Basin Plan being developed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority in consultation with state governments and stakeholders.
Source: http://www.environment.gov.au, "AU Water Leadership and Legislation"
Flow chart provided from http://www.environment.gov.au, "AU Water Leadership and Legislation"