Mine Water Bill Passed in Queensland

Miners in Queensland Will No Longer Need a Licence to take Ground Water and Will Be Exempt from Reporting Requirements for "Low-risk" Activities

State Parliament last night passed new water management laws that will allow the Government to guarantee water access for large-scale mining and agriculture projects earlier during the assessment process.

Mines Minister Andrew Cripps, who introduced the bill, said the legislation cut red tape, provided certainty for developers and increased private sector investment.

The laws also provide protection for landholders whose water supply is affected by mining activities.

"The bill delivers a number of key reforms while retaining certainty and security of entitlements and, most importantly, balancing economic, social and environmental outcomes," he said.

"It does not abandon the interests of the environment, does not abandon the Great Barrier Reef, ... provides opportunities for economic growth in Queensland while taking into consideration the needs for local communities for water and also the important needs of the environment."

He said although mines would not require a licence for associated water take, their operations would still be subject to approval from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.

Critics said the water reform and other legislation would give coal companies the right to extract billions of litres of ground water without having to buy licences or to adhere to caps.

Environment groups feared the legislation would damage aquifers and the Great Barrier Reef.

Labor's environment spokesperson Jackie Trad said the bill removed environmental checks and would result in the degradation of water supplies.

Source: ABC

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Taxonomy

• Water Distillation
• Water Management
• Groundwater Recharge