Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760:front:0:p69
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 189409–192893

Basin (Basin annual environmental watering priorities).
(2) The purpose of the Basin annual environmental watering priorities is to identify watering priorities that give effect to the Basin‑wide environmental watering strategy.
Note: For the application of Basin annual environmental watering priorities, see Division 6.

8.28 Content of Basin annual environmental watering priorities
The Basin annual environmental watering priorities may identify any of the following:
            (a) priority environmental assets and priority ecosystem functions that have Basin‑scale significance for environmental watering during that water accounting period;
            (b) priority environmental assets and priority ecosystem functions whose environmental watering during the period will require complex arrangements;
Example: Complex arrangements could include multiple water sources, multiple sites, the involvement of multiple parties, the achievement of multiple benefits, or trade‑offs.
            (c) any potential for synergies in environmental watering activities (including at a scale that involves multiple water resource plan areas).
Note: Synergies could be identified in order to maximise environmental benefits in the way described in section 8.35.

8.29 Preparation of Basin annual environmental watering priorities

Consultation requirements
(1) The Authority must prepare the Basin annual environmental watering priorities in consultation with:
            (a) Basin States; and
            (b) the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder.
(2) If any disagreement arises during the consultation referred to in subsection (1), the view of the Authority prevails.

Matters to which Authority must have regard
(3) When preparing the Basin annual environmental watering priorities, the Authority must have regard to the following, where these relate to achieving objectives in Part 2:
            (a) any advice prepared by a committee established under section 203 of the Act for the purpose of advising the Authority on issues relating to environmental watering;
            (b) any advice provided by river operators;
            (c) the long‑term watering plans for all water resource plan areas;
            (d) annual environmental watering priorities for all water resource plan areas;
            (e) the water quality and salinity objectives and targets specified in the water quality and salinity management plan in Chapter 9;
            (f) the views of:
                (i) local communities, including bodies established by a Basin State that express community views in relation to environmental watering; and
                (ii) persons materially affected by the management of environmental water;
            (g) Indigenous values and Indigenous uses;
            (h) optimising social, economic and environmental outcomes;
            (i) any consultation or other information the Authority considers relevant to the co‑ordination of environmental watering.
Example: The Authority may engage an individual scientist or scientific advisory committee to provide advice on aspects of Basin annual environmental watering priorities.

How Authority identifies Basin annual environmental watering priorities
(4) The Authority may identify priority environmental assets and priority ecosystem functions, and their environmental watering requirements, from:
            (a) any that are identified in the Basin‑wide environmental watering strategy in accordance with