Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760:front:0:p66
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 180862–183801

plan, or an updated long‑term watering plan.

Consistency with international agreements
(5) A long‑term watering plan must not be inconsistent with relevant international agreements.
Note: A purpose of the Basin Plan, including Chapter 8, is to give effect to relevant international agreements (see paragraph 20(a) and subsections 21(1), (2) and (3) of the Act). This provision is a further check to ensure that this purpose is achieved.

8.21 Provision and publication of long‑term watering plans
(1) A Basin State must give a long‑term watering plan for a water resource plan area to the Authority:
            (a) no later than 12 months after the Basin‑wide environmental watering strategy is first published; or
            (b) if the long‑term watering plan is reviewed and updated in accordance with subsection 8.22(1)—no later than 3 months after the relevant event mentioned in that subsection; or
            (c) if the long‑term watering plan is reviewed and updated other than in accordance with subsection 8.22(1)—as soon as practicable after it is updated; or
            (d) within another timeframe agreed to by the Authority and the Basin State.
Note: Subsection 8.16(1) provides that the Authority has 24 months from commencement of the Basin Plan to publish the Basin‑wide environmental watering strategy. The 12‑month timeframe referred to in paragraph (a) commences when the Authority actually publishes the strategy, and not 24 months after commencement of the Basin Plan.
(2) The Authority or Basin State may publish a long‑term watering plan or part of that plan.
Note: To ensure transparency, it is expected that Basin States will publish long‑term watering plans as soon as is practicable.

8.22 Review and update of long‑term watering plans
(1) A Basin State must review and update a long‑term watering plan if:
            (a) the water resource plan for the water resource plan area is accredited by the Minister under section 63 of the Act; or
            (b) an amendment of the water resource plan for the water resource plan area is accredited by the Minister under section 65 of the Act; or
            (c) the water resource plan for the water resource plan area is adopted by the Minister under section 69 of the Act; or
            (d) the Authority publishes an updated Basin‑wide environmental watering strategy, the updates of which materially affect the long‑term watering plan; or
            (e) it is 5 years after the last time the plan was reviewed under this section.
(2) A Basin State may review and update a long‑term watering plan at any time.

        Division 4—Annual environmental watering priorities

8.23 Obligation to identify annual environmental watering priorities
(1) A Basin State must, in relation to each water accounting period, identify annual environmental watering priorities for surface water in each water resource plan area (annual environmental watering priorities).