Large-scale changes in land use can also affect water availability by intercepting water than would otherwise reach streams and aquifers. This can affect the water resource, entitlement holders and the environment. Better information and data about domestic and stock water use under the section 8 rights and land use changes will inform the reviews of long-term water resource assessments and sustainable water strategies about the risks to water resources and whether action is required to mitigate impacts. This action could range from better recording to increased regulation. These reviews will need to take into account Victoria’s commitments under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to ensure that we comply with its requirements. Action 8.4 – Better record and report on emerging significant uses of water The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will: investigate the introduction of a reasonable use limit for domestic and stock rights under section 8 of the Water Act to ensure consistency and fairness in access to water resources in consultation with the community and relevant stakeholders monitor and report on the impact of water use on other users and the environment, and report on significant uses of water in the annual Victorian Water Accounts periodically review the long-term risks to Victoria’s water resources through mechanisms such as long-term water resource assessments and sustainable water strategies. Strengthening and modernising compliance arrangements Victoria’s water resource compliance and enforcement framework is designed to protect the environment and existing entitlement holders from illegal take and use of water. Compliance with conditions of water entitlements is vital to maintain entitlement reliability and market integrity (see Chapter 9: Realising the potential of the grid and markets) and to give stakeholders and the community confidence in how water is being managed. Victoria’s water corporations are responsible for managing compliance of individuals; approaches to compliance vary across the state. The compliance and enforcement regime in the Water Act is outdated. The government will modernise the enforcement regime to align with best practice regulation. Action 8.5 – Ensure a modern compliance regime that works Water corporations will adopt a consistent risk-based approach to manage compliance and enforcement with improved oversight and reporting. The government will modernise the compliance and enforcement regime for water corporations to reflect best practice regulation.
Large-scale changes in land use can also affect water availability by intercepting water than would otherwise reach streams and aquifers. This can affect the water resource, entitlement holders and the environment. Better information and data about domestic and stock water use under the section 8 rights and land use changes will inform the reviews of long-term water resource assessments and sustainable water strategies about the risks to water resources and whether action is required to mitigate impacts. This action could range from better recording to increased regulation. These reviews will need to take into account Victoria’s commitments under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to ensure that we comply with its requirements. Action 8.4 – Better record and report on emerging significant uses of water The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will: investigate the introduction of a reasonable use limit for domestic and stock rights under section 8 of the Water Act to ensure consistency and fairness in access to water resources in consultation with the community and relevant stakeholders monitor and report on the impact of water use on other users and the environment, and report on significant uses of water in the annual Victorian Water Accounts periodically review the long-term risks to Victoria’s water resources through mechanisms such as long-term water resource assessments and sustainable water strategies. Strengthening and modernising compliance arrangements Victoria’s water resource compliance and enforcement framework is designed to protect the environment and existing entitlement holders from illegal take and use of water. Compliance with conditions of water entitlements is vital to maintain entitlement reliability and market integrity (see Chapter 9: Realising the potential of the grid and markets) and to give stakeholders and the community confidence in how water is being managed. Victoria’s water corporations are responsible for managing compliance of individuals; approaches to compliance vary across the state. The compliance and enforcement regime in the Water Act is outdated. The government will modernise the enforcement regime to align with best practice regulation. Action 8.5 – Ensure a modern compliance regime that works Water corporations will adopt a consistent risk-based approach to manage compliance and enforcement with improved oversight and reporting. The government will modernise the compliance and enforcement regime for water corporations to reflect best practice regulation.