Commonwealth Government legislation comes into effect today that transfers to the ACT Government responsibility for all water abstraction in the ACT.
“The ACT Water Management Legislation is an example of one of the many ways in which our Government is improving governance of water within the Murray-Darling Basin,” said Senator Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary of the Environment.
“The new legislation strengthens the Government’s commitment to delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, in full and on time, while also bringing ACT powers and responsibilities on water into line with other states.
“These changes will allow the ACT to manage all water abstraction in the ACT, consistent with the Basin Plan, just as other states are expected to do in their jurisdictions.
“For example, the Act enables the ACT to include in its water resource plan the Googong Dam, which is the major supply of water to the ACT,” Senator Birmingham explained.
“The Act ensures that the appropriate level of government is responsible for managing water in the ACT on a day to day basis, leading to better local catchment outcomes and enabling the ACT to comply with the Basin Plan,” said Senator Birmingham.
The Commonwealth Government has worked with the ACT Government to facilitate the transition to the new arrangements for affected bodies.