In Queensland, a number of groundwater areas have been
established to protect underground water resources These
groundwater areas are referred to in various ways under
subordinate legislation such as subartesian areas declared under
the water regulation, groundwater management areas, management
areas, management units or subartesian management areas but can
be generically referred to as groundwater areas. A groundwater
area is an area identified in the Water Regulation 2002 (Water
Regulation), a water resource plan or a wild river declaration
within which management requirements for groundwater exist. An
authorisation is required to access groundwater and/or construct
works to take groundwater for certain purposes. Artesian water
is water that occurs in an aquifer, which if tapped by a bore,
would flow naturally to the surface. The majority of artesian
water in Queensland exists within the Great Artesian Basin.
Under the Water Act 2000 and Sustainable Planning Act 2009, both
a water licence and a development