Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760:front:0:p75
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 207616–210878

the maximum period between flow events;
            (f) the extent and thresholds for any groundwater dependency;
            (g) the required inundation depth at the site.

        Part 6—Principles and method to determine priorities for applying environmental water

        Division 1—Principles to be applied to determine priorities

8.52 Outline of Division
This Division sets out the principles to be applied to determine the priorities for applying environmental water.

8.53 Principle 1—Consistency with principles of ecologically sustainable development and international agreements
Priorities for applying environmental water are:
            (a) to reflect the principles of ecologically sustainable development; and
            (b) not to be inconsistent with relevant international agreements; and
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.
            (c) to be based on the best available knowledge of what is necessary to maintain the long‑term resilience of the water‑dependent ecosystem to risks and threats.
Note: Best available knowledge may change over time, especially as a result of monitoring undertaken pursuant to Chapter 13 of the Basin Plan.

8.54 Principle 2—Consistency with objectives
Priorities for applying environmental water are to be consistent with the objectives in Part 2.

8.55 Principle 3—Flexibility and responsiveness
Priorities for applying environmental water are to be flexible and responsive so as to:
            (a) ensure that regard is had to 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; and
            (b) ensure that wherever possible water meets multiple objectives in order to maximise system‑wide benefits; and
            (c) encourage innovative approaches to water management.

8.56 Principle 4—Condition of environmental assets and ecosystem functions
Priorities for applying environmental water are to be determined having regard to matters relating to the condition of priority environmental assets and priority ecosystem functions, including:
            (a) the condition of the asset or function to be watered; and
            (b) relevant past conditions (for example, climate, drought, rainfall, flow history and fire); and
            (c) the urgency of the need to provide water to the asset or to sustain the function; and
            (d) the likely response of an asset or function to environmental watering, and the certainty of the change in condition based on previous experience or best available knowledge; and
            (e) the long‑term sustainability of an asset or water‑dependent ecosystem that supports a function; and
            (f) the existence of management plans relating to broader natural resource management matters; and
            (g) the effect on an asset or water‑dependent ecosystem that supports a function if environmental water is