Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760:front:0:p58
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024C00760
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 156872–159996

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 table in subsection 22(1) and section 28 of the Act).
(3) The environmental watering plan specifies:
            (a) the overall environmental objectives for the water‑dependent ecosystems of the Murray‑Darling Basin (Part 2); and
            (b) targets by which to measure progress towards achieving those objectives (Part 3); and
            (c) an environmental management framework for planned environmental water and held environmental water (Part 4); and
Note 1: See section 8.10 for a detailed outline of the elements of the environmental management framework.
Note 2: The principles to be applied in environmental watering are specified in Division 6 of Part 4.
            (d) the methods to be used to identify environmental assets in the Murray‑Darling Basin that will require environmental watering (Part 5); and
            (e) the principles to be applied, and the method to be used, to determine the priorities for applying environmental water (including applying that water to environmental assets that are identified using the methods in paragraph (d)) (Part 6).

8.02 Purpose of Chapter
(1) The purpose of the environmental watering plan is to achieve the objectives in Part 2 and give effect to the principles in Division 6 of Part 4 by:
            (a) co‑ordinating the planning, prioritisation and use of environmental water on both a long‑term and an annual basis; and
            (b) enabling adaptive management to be applied to the planning, prioritisation and use of environmental water; and
            (c) facilitating consultation, co‑ordination and co‑operative arrangements, where possible, between the Authority, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder and Basin States; and
            (d) enabling information to be shared between the Authority, the Commonwealth, Basin States, holders of held environmental water and managers of planned environmental water to ensure efficient and effective use of environmental water.
(2) This section does not limit the operation of this Chapter.
Note: Subsection 1.02(2) states that the Basin Plan has the effect provided for in sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 86G and 86H of the Act.

8.03 Effect of environmental watering plan on Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
(1) The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder must perform its functions and exercise its powers in a way that is consistent with:
            (a) the environmental watering plan; and
            (b) the Basin‑wide environmental watering strategy.
(2) When performing its functions and exercising its powers, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder must have regard to the Basin annual environmental watering priorities.
Note: The Act imposes other obligations onto the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder that relate to the environmental watering plan. See sections 105, 106 and 114 of