Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760:front:0:p57
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 154263–157157

units to be adjusted to reflect new or improved information about their groundwater resources.

7.25 Adjustments relating to groundwater
(1) The Authority may propose, under section 23A of the Act, an adjustment of the SDL for a groundwater SDL resource unit if better information becomes available about the groundwater resources of the unit and the factors relevant to setting the SDL, in particular information about:
            (a) recharge rates; or
            (b) connectivity with surface water; or
            (c) usage patterns; or
            (d) Basin State policy and planning settings.
(2) In determining the amount of the proposed adjustment, the Authority must be satisfied that, in the light of the better information, the SDL for the unit:
            (a) may be increased by the amount of the proposed adjustment and still represent an environmentally sustainable level of take; or
            (b) should be decreased by the amount of the proposed adjustment to represent an environmentally sustainable level of take.
Note: Under section 23B of the Act, the Authority is then required to prepare appropriate amendments of the Basin Plan, for adoption by the Minister.
(3) A proposal in accordance with this section may be made as soon as practicable after 30 June 2016, or at any time after 30 June 2019.

7.26 Overall limitation on size of groundwater adjustment amounts
The Authority may not propose an adjustment under this Part if the result would be that the net effect of all adjustments proposed under this Part since the reference time would represent an increase or decrease of more than 5% of the total groundwater SDL for the Basin water resources as it stood at the reference time.

        Part 5—Independent audit of calculations

7.27 Independent audit of Authority's calculations
(1) The Authority may appoint or establish a person or body that is independent of the Authority to audit calculations made by the Authority for the purpose of Parts 2 and 4.
(1A) The Inspector‑General may:
            (a) audit calculations made by the Authority for the purposes of Parts 2 and 4; or
            (b) appoint or establish a person or body that is independent of the Authority to audit calculations made by the Authority for the purposes of Parts 2 and 4.
(2) The person or body conducting any audit must:
            (a) produce a report setting out the findings of the audit; and
            (b) before the report is finalised, provide the Authority, the Inspector‑General (unless the Inspector‑General is conducting the audit), the Commonwealth and each Basin State with an opportunity to comment on the proposed findings.

        Chapter 8—Environmental watering plan

        Part 1—Preliminary

8.01 Simplified outline
(1) This section sets out a simplified outline of this Chapter.
(2) This Chapter sets out the environmental watering plan (item 9 of the