The Land, Water and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 amends the Water Act 2000 to implement recommendations relating to levees from the Queensland Floods Commission of The Bill provides the legislative framework for a consistent approach to Inquiry’s Final Report. regulate the construction of new levees and modification of existing levees. The Bill also amends a number of Acts within the natural resources and mining portfolio which will streamline various operational land, water and petroleum provisions as well as realise a number of administrative and operational efficiencies for both government and stakeholders. The Bill supports the to reduce red tape. government’s commitment Some of the amendments in the Bill include: streamlining a number of tenure related issues on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands shortening the acquisition process in the where the parties Acquisition of Land Act 1967 agree and where native title interests are not involved allowing a short term extension of a lease under the Land Act 1994 for periods of up to two years, rather than one year amending the provisions relating to the State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy to increase the applicable land area threshold to 1,000 hectares or more for new leases and lease renewals under the Land Act 1994 providing a legislative framework for the recording and registration of statutory easements over small terrace type housing lots, containing buildings with shared common walls removing the requirement for a resource activity tenure holder to hold a water licence to interfere with the flow of water in a watercourse via diversion on tenure. Instead this interference will be authorised through the granting of an environmental authority under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 extending the stated period of all currently issued water licences until 30 June 2111 removing the requirement for a riverine protection permit under the Water Act 2000, for the clearing of vegetation in a watercourse, lake or spring leaving these matters to be dealt with under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 removing the requirement for water entitlement holders proposing to undertake irrigation to prepare land and water management plans increasing flexibility for the chief executive of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines to deal with surrendered and forfeited interim water allocations providing the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines with more flexibility in prioritising the review and replacement of water resource plans streamlining the process for the conversion of petroleum wells to water supply bores or water observation bores. Cabinet approved the introduction of the Land, Water and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 into the Legislative Assembly. Attachments and
The Land, Water and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 amends the Water Act 2000 to implement recommendations relating to levees from the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry’s Final Report. The Bill provides the legislative framework for a consistent approach to regulate the construction of new levees and modification of existing levees. The Bill also amends a number of Acts within the natural resources and mining portfolio which will streamline various operational land, water and petroleum provisions as well as realise a number of administrative and operational efficiencies for both government and stakeholders. The Bill supports the government’s commitment to reduce red tape. Some of the amendments in the Bill include: streamlining a number of tenure related issues on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands shortening the acquisition process in the Acquisition of Land Act 1967 where the parties agree and where native title interests are not involved allowing a short term extension of a lease under the Land Act 1994 for periods of up to two years, rather than one year amending the provisions relating to the State Rural Leasehold Land Strategy to increase the applicable land area threshold to 1,000 hectares or more for new leases and lease renewals under the Land Act 1994 providing a legislative framework for the recording and registration of statutory easements over small terrace type housing lots, containing buildings with shared common walls removing the requirement for a resource activity tenure holder to hold a water licence to interfere with the flow of water in a watercourse via diversion on tenure. Instead this interference will be authorised through the granting of an environmental authority under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 extending the stated period of all currently issued water licences until 30 June 2111 removing the requirement for a riverine protection permit under the Water Act 2000, for the clearing of vegetation in a watercourse, lake or spring leaving these matters to be dealt with under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 removing the requirement for water entitlement holders proposing to undertake irrigation to prepare land and water management plans increasing flexibility for the chief executive of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines to deal with surrendered and forfeited interim water allocations providing the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines with more flexibility in prioritising the review and replacement of water resource plans streamlining the process for the conversion of petroleum wells to water supply bores or water observation bores. Cabinet approved the introduction of the Land, Water and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013 into the Legislative Assembly. Attachments and