An Act to constitute the Sydney Catchment Authority and to confer and impose on it certain functions with respect to the protection and management of certain catchment areas, with respect to the supply of water to Sydney Water Corporation Limited and other bodies, and with respect to other matters; to make provision for the protection of public health and public safety and for the protection of the environment; to make consequential amendments to the Water Board (Corporatisation) Act 1994 and certain other Acts; and for other purposes.
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation.
3 Definitions
In this Act:area of operations means:(a) in relation to the Authority—the area of operations of the Authority under this Act, or(b) in relation to the Sydney Water Corporation—the area of operations of the Sydney Water Corporation under the Sydney Water Act.Authority means the Sydney Catchment Authority constituted under this Act.Board means the Sydney Catchment Authority Board constituted under this Act.catchment area means the inner catchment area or the outer catchment area.catchment infrastructure works means:(a) water storages, water mains, or connected or associated works, or(b) monitoring devices in, under, over or near any works referred to in paragraph (a), orand includes anything prescribed by the regulations as being within this definition, but excludes anything prescribed by the regulations as being outside this definition.(c) any works ancillary or antecedent to any works referred to in paragraph (a) or (b),Chief Executive means the Chief Executive of the Authority.controlled area means an area of land for the time being declared under this Act to be a controlled area.county council means a county council under the Local Government Act 1993.environmental flow means a release of water from storage so as to provide a flow of water in a river, stream or other natural waterway that:(a) mimics natural seasonal flows, and(b) restores and maintains the ecology of the waterway concerned.exercise a function includes perform a duty.function includes a power, authority or duty.Fund means the Sydney Catchment Management Fund referred to in section 24A.inner catchment area means land for the time being declared under this Act to be or to be part of the inner catchment area of the Authority.land includes the following:(a) the sea or an arm of the sea,(b) a bay, inlet, lagoon, lake or body of water, whether inland or not and whether tidal or non-tidal,(c) a river, stream or watercourse, whether tidal or non-tidal,(d) a building erected on the land.lease includes a licence or permit.local council means a council within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1993.operating licence means the operating licence granted under section 25 or any renewal of it, and as in force for the time being.operational audit means an operational audit of the Authority that is required to be prepared under the operating licence.outer catchment area means land for the time being declared under this Act to be or to be part of the outer catchment area of the Authority.owner, in relation to land, includes every person who jointly or severally at law or in equity:(a) is entitled to the land for an estate of freehold in possession, or(b) is a person to whom the Crown has contracted to sell the land under the Crown Lands Act 1989 or any other Act relating to alienation of land of the Crown, orand, in relation to land of the Crown, means the Crown, but does not include a person who, or a class of persons that, is declared by the regulations as being outside this definition, either generally or in a particular case or class of cases.(c) is entitled to receive, or receives, or if the land were let to a tenant would receive, the rents and profits of the land, whether as beneficial owner, trustee, mortgagee in possession or otherwise,includes a corporation that is incorporated by or under an Act, but does not include:(a) a company within the meaning of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth, or(b) a society within the meaning of the Co-operation Act 1923 or a co-operative within the meaning of the Co-operatives Act 1992, or(c) an association incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1984, or(d) a body prescribed by the regulations as not being a public authority for the purposes of this definition.special area means an area of land for the time being declared under this Act to be a special area.specified includes referred to.Sydney Water Act means the Water Board (Corporatisation) Act 1994, and includes that Act with any altered citation.Sydney Water Corporation means Sydney Water Corporation Limited referred to in the Sydney Water Act, or, if Sydney Water Corporation is constituted as a corporation under the Sydney Water Act, means Sydney Water Corporation.Tribunal means the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal established under the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal Act 1992.water storages means dam walls, pumps and other works used for or with respect to the extraction, and storage, of:(a) water in rivers and lakes, and(b) water occurring naturally on the surface of the ground, and(c) sub-surface waters.has the same meaning as it has in the Water Management Act 2000.works, in relation to the Authority, includes catchment infrastructure works vested in or under the control of the Authority.s 3: Am 2000 No 60, Sch 1.6 [1] [2]; 2000 No 92, Sch 8.28 [1]; 2001 No 34, Sch 4.65; 2001 No 74, Sch 1 [1].
4 Other Acts not affected
Except so far as is expressly or impliedly provided by this or any other Act, nothing in this Act affects the operation of the Catchment Management Act 1989 or any other Act.
5 Act to bind Crown
This Act binds the Crown in right of New South Wales and, in so far as the legislative power of the Parliament of New South Wales permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.
Part 2 Constitution of Sydney Catchment Authority
6 Constitution of Authority
(1) There is constituted by this Act a corporation with the corporate name of the Sydney Catchment Authority.(2) The Authority is, for the purposes of any Act, a statutory body representing the Crown.
7 Board
(1) There is to be a Sydney Catchment Authority Board.(2) The Board is to consist of:(a) the Chief Executive, and(b) not fewer than 4 and not more than 7 members appointed by the Minister, one of whom is to be a nominee of the NSW Farmers’ Association and one of whom is to be a nominee of the Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales.(3) The persons appointed by the Minister must each or together have expertise in the areas of protection of the environment and public health, and such other expertise as the Minister considers necessary in order to realise the objectives of the Authority.(4) The Minister is to advertise publicly for nominations for appointment to the Board.(5) Schedule 1 has effect with respect to the constitution and procedure of the Board.
8 Functions of Board
(1) The Board has the following functions:(a) determining the policies and long-term strategic plans of the Authority,(b) endeavouring to ensure that the Authority meets all public health and environmental requirements set out in the operating licence and any relevant instrument,(c) overseeing the effective, efficient and economical management of the Authority,(d) preparing:(i) the annual report of the Authority required under the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984, and(ii) such reports as the Authority is required to furnish under this Act.(2) In exercising those functions, the Board has the duty of endeavouring to ensure that the water supplied by the Authority complies with appropriate standards of quality.
9 Chief Executive
(1) The Governor may appoint a Chief Executive of the Authority.(2) Schedule 2 has effect with respect to the Chief Executive.
10 Chief Executive to manage Authority
(1) The affairs of the Authority are to be managed and controlled by the Chief Executive in accordance with the policies determined by the Board and any other decisions of the Board, but subject to any directions of the Minister under this Act.(2) Any act, matter or thing done in the name of, or on behalf of, the Authority by the Chief Executive, or with the authority of the Chief Executive, is taken to have been done by the Authority.
11 Ministerial directions
(1) The Authority is subject to the control and direction of the Minister, except in relation to the contents of any report or recommendation made by the Authority.(2) Subject to this section, the Board and the Chief Executive must ensure that the Authority complies with any direction given to the Authority by the Minister.(3) If the Board considers that:(a) the Authority would suffer a significant financial loss as a result of complying with any such direction, andthe Board may request the Minister to review the direction.(b) the direction is not in the commercial interests of the Authority,(4) However, a request for a review may not be made on the grounds specified in subsection (3) in relation to a direction given in respect of any alienation, mortgage, charge or demise of land in a special area that is owned by or vested in the Authority.(5) The Board may also request the Minister to review a direction if the Board considers that compliance with the direction is likely to result in environmental degradation, or that the direction is otherwise inconsistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development referred to in section 14 (1) (c).(6) A request for a review must be made within 7 days after the direction is given or within such other reasonable period as the Minister determines.(7) If the Board requests a review, the Authority is not required to comply with the direction until notified of the Minister’s decision following the review.(8) Following the review the Minister may confirm or revoke a direction of the kind referred to in subsection (3), but the Minister must not confirm the direction unless:(a) the Minister has estimated the financial loss concerned from information supplied by the Authority or from other sources, and(b) the Minister has referred the matter to the Treasurer, and(c) the Treasurer has approved of the financial loss being reimbursed from public revenue.(9) The amount to be reimbursed to the Authority is to be paid, from money advanced by the Treasurer or appropriated by Parliament for that purpose, at such times and in such amounts as the Treasurer determines after receiving advice from the Minister on the estimated financial loss incurred by the Authority from time to time.(10) For the purposes of this section, the amount of the financial loss that the Authority suffers as a result of complying with a direction includes the amount of expenditure that the Authority incurs, and the amount of revenue that the Authority forgoes, as a result of complying with the direction which it would not otherwise incur or forgo.(11) The Minister is to publish a direction given under this section in the Gazette (and is to make it available on the Internet) as soon as practicable after it is given.(12) A direction given under this section is of no effect to the extent that it is inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the Authority’s operating licence unless the Minister certifies in the direction that it is given on such grounds, specified in the direction and involving urgency, public health or public safety, as justify the direction’s prevailing over those terms and conditions.
12 Staff
The Authority may employ such staff as may be necessary to assist it in the exercise of its functions. Part 2 of the Public Sector Management Act 1988 does not apply to or in respect of any such staff.
Part 3 Role, objectives and functions of Authority
Division 1 Role and objectives
13 Role
The role of the Authority is, subject to and in accordance with this Act:(a) to manage and protect the catchment areas and catchment infrastructure works, and(b) to be a supplier of bulk water, and(c) to regulate certain activities within or affecting the outer catchment area as well as the inner catchment area.
14 Objectives
(1) The principal objectives of the Authority are as follows:(a) to ensure that the catchment areas and the catchment infrastructure works are managed and protected so as to promote water quality, the protection of public health and public safety, and the protection of the environment,(b) to ensure that water supplied by it complies with appropriate standards of quality,(c) where its activities affect the environment, to conduct its operations in compliance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development contained in section 6 (2) of the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991,(d) to manage the Authority’s catchment infrastructure works efficiently and economically and in accordance with sound commercial principles.(2) In implementing its principal objectives, the Authority has the following special objectives:(a) to minimise risks to human health,(b) to prevent the degradation of the environment.(3) Nothing in this section gives rise to, or can be taken into account in, any civil cause of action.
Division 2 Functions
15 General functions
(1) The Authority has and may exercise the functions conferred or imposed on it by or under this or any other Act, to the extent to which the operating licence enables the Authority to exercise those functions.(2) The Authority has the primary function of protecting the quality and quantity of water in catchment areas.
16 Specific functions
(1) The Authority has the following specific functions:(a) to supply water to the Sydney Water Corporation,(b) to supply water to water supply authorities, prescribed local councils or prescribed county councils,(c) to supply water to other persons and bodies, but under terms and conditions that prevent the person or body concerned from supplying the water for consumption by others within the State unless the person or body is authorised to do so by or under an Act,(d) to manage and protect the catchment areas and the catchment infrastructure works vested in or under the control of the Authority,(e) to protect and enhance the quality of water controlled by the Authority,(f) to undertake research on catchments generally, and in particular on the health of the Authority’s catchment areas,(g) to undertake an educative role within the community.(2) The Authority is required, and has power, to comply with the requirements imposed by or under any other Act in relation to any of its activities.
17 Concurrence and other roles under environmental planning instruments
(1) The Authority has such functions as are necessary or convenient to carry out any concurrence or other role conferred or imposed on it by or under any environmental planning instrument in relation to a catchment area.(2) This section does not affect the generality of any other provision of this or any other Act.
18 Concurrence and other roles under licensing legislation
(1) The Authority has such functions as are necessary or convenient to carry out any concurrence or other role conferred or imposed on it by the regulations under this Act in relation to the grant of licences under any Act or instrument under any Act so far as they relate to:(a) activities carried out or proposed to be carried out within a catchment area, or(b) activities carried out or proposed to be carried out outside a catchment area but being of such a nature as affect or may affect a catchment area.(2) The regulations under this Act may, on the recommendation of the Minister and with the approval of the Minister administering the Act concerned, make provision for or with respect to:(a) requiring the Authority to be notified of applications for the grant of specified classes of licences, and(b) preventing the grant of specified classes of licences without the concurrence of the Authority.(3) Such a concurrence may be given on conditions, including conditions as to the terms and conditions to be included in or otherwise attached to such a licence.(4) This section does not affect the generality of any other provision of this or any other Act so far as it confers or imposes functions on the Authority, but otherwise has effect despite anything in any other Act.(5) This section does not:(a) authorise the Authority to grant licences, or(b) apply in relation to licences for premises occupied by, or activities carried on by, the Authority.(6) In this section:grant includes issue, approve or amend.licence includes consent, permit, authority or any other kind of authorisation (however described).
19 Compliance role under other legislation
(1) The Authority has such functions as are necessary or convenient to carry out any inspectorial, enforcement or other role conferred or imposed on it by the regulations under this Act by reference to powers conferred on other persons or bodies under any Act or instrument under any Act so far as they relate to:(a) activities carried out or proposed to be carried out within a catchment area, or(b) activities carried out or proposed to be carried out outside a catchment area but being of such a nature as affect or may affect a catchment area.(2) The regulations under this Act may, on the recommendation of the Minister and with the approval of the Minister administering the Act concerned, make provision for or with respect to conferring or imposing on the Authority any such function, and to specifying the effect or consequences of the exercise of any such function.(3) The Authority may delegate any such function to an officer of the Authority.(4) This section does not affect the generality of any other provision of this or any other Act so far as it confers or imposes functions on the Authority, but otherwise has effect despite anything in any other Act.(5) This section does not apply in relation to:(a) the grant of licences (as referred to in section 18), or(b) activities carried on by the Authority.
Division 3 Area of operations
20 Area of operations
(1) The area of operations of the Authority is to be so much of the area of operations that the Sydney Water Corporation had immediately before the commencement of this section as is specified in the initial operating licence of the Authority.(2) The Governor may, by order published in the Gazette, vary the area of operations of the Authority.(3) Sections 39, 40 and 41 of the Interpretation Act 1987 apply to an order under this section as if it were a statutory rule to which those sections apply.(4) Nothing in this section prevents the operating licence from empowering the Authority to exercise functions in or in respect of an area outside the area of operations of the Authority.(5) Nothing in this section affects the area of operations of the Sydney Water Corporation.
21 Facilitating provisions of orders
(1) An order of the Governor for the purposes of this Division may include such provisions as are necessary or convenient for giving effect to the order, including provisions for or with respect to the following:(a) the transfer of staff,(b) the transfer or apportionment of assets, rights and liabilities,(c) the delivery or retention of records,(d) the termination, cessation, dissolution or abolition of anything existing before the order takes effect,(e) the preservation or continuance of anything existing before the order takes effect.(2) Such an order may:(a) apply generally or be limited in its application by reference to specified exceptions or factors, or(b) apply differently according to different factors of a specified kind, oror may do any combination of those things.(c) authorise any matter or thing to be from time to time determined, applied or regulated by any specified person or body,
Division 4 Arrangements with Sydney Water Corporation
22 Arrangements with Sydney Water Corporation
(1) The Authority is required to enter into arrangements with the Sydney Water Corporation regarding the supply of water by the Authority to the Corporation.(2) The matters with which the arrangements are to deal are to include the following:(a) the standard of quality of the water supplied,(b) the continuity of water supply,(c) the maintenance of adequate reserves of water by the Authority,(d) subject to this Division, the cost to be paid by the Corporation for the supply of water to it.(3) The arrangements may be amended or replaced from time to time.(4) The Treasurer is to be consulted about the terms of the arrangements, including amendments and replacements, before their finalisation.(5) The terms of the arrangements, including amendments and replacements, have no effect unless or until approved by the Minister.(6) The arrangements are to be reviewed as required by:(a) the terms of the arrangements, or(b) the terms of the operating licence, or(c) the Minister.(7) The arrangements are to be amended or replaced at times specified by:(a) the terms of the arrangements, or(b) the terms of the operating licence, or(c) the Minister.(8) Section 38 (Public exhibition of memoranda of understanding) applies, with the necessary modifications, to arrangements under this section in the same way as it applies to memoranda of understanding.(9) Nothing in this Division limits the matters that may be included in the operating licence or limits the terms of the operating licence.
23 Negotiations
(1) The Authority and the Sydney Water Corporation are required to enter into negotiations for the purpose of entering into, amending or replacing the arrangements as and when required by or under this Division.(2) If it appears to the Premier that negotiations are unable to be finalised, the arrangements are to be entered into, amended or replaced in accordance with the procedures determined by the Premier or are taken to be entered into, amended or replaced in such terms as are determined by the Premier.
24 Role of Tribunal with respect to arrangements
(1) (Repealed)(2) An arrangement under this Division is not to be entered into, amended or replaced except after consultation with the Tribunal and after the Tribunal has furnished a report on the proposed arrangement or amendment to the Minister, the Authority and the Sydney Water Corporation.(3) In furnishing such a report, the Tribunal is to take into consideration any public submissions made under section 22 (8).(4) The Tribunal may investigate the adequacy and operation of the arrangements under this Division at any time, and may furnish a report on any aspect of the arrangements, or their adequacy or operation, to the Minister.(5) Section 33 (Presentation of report to Parliament) applies to a report furnished to the Minister under this section in the same way as it applies to a report of the Tribunal presented to the Minister under section 32.(6) Without limiting the generality of any provisions of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal Act 1992, the supply of water by the Authority to the Sydney Water Corporation is capable of being declared to be a government monopoly service within the meaning of that Act.(7) The provisions of this Division and of the arrangements have effect subject to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal Act 1992.s 24: Am 2000 No 60, Sch 1.6 [3] [4].
Division 5 Financial provisions
pt 3, div 5: Ins 2001 No 74, Sch 1 [2].
24A Sydney Catchment Management Fund
(1) There is established a fund called the Sydney Catchment Management Fund (the Fund).(2) The Fund is to be maintained by the Authority.s 24A: Ins 2001 No 74, Sch 1 [2].
24B Payments into Fund
The following amounts are to be paid into the Fund:(a) any money appropriated by Parliament for payment into the Fund,(b) any money received by the Authority from the supply of water,(c) any money received by the Authority in relation to any lease, licence, permit or easement granted by the Authority in respect of land under its ownership or control,(d) any money received by the Authority from the sale of its assets,(e) any fees received by the Authority for the services it supplies,(f) any penalty, fine or forfeiture recovered in proceedings for an offence against this or any other Act, or against the regulations under this or any other Act, being proceedings instituted by or under the direction of, or for on behalf of, the Authority,(g) any money given to the Authority for the express purpose of payment into the Fund,(h) the proceeds of the investment of money in the Fund,(i) any other money required to be paid into the Fund by or under this or any other Act or law.s 24B: Ins 2001 No 74, Sch 1 [2].
24C Payments out of Fund
Money in the Fund may be applied for any or all of the following purposes:(a) capital and recurrent expenditure in relation to the Authority’s works,(b) carrying out and giving effect to plans of management in accordance with section 50 (including payment of money to the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife in that connection),(c) acquiring land (including an interest in land) as referred to in section 60,(d) the provision of financial assistance for the purpose of funding catchment management activities carried out by other persons and bodies, including local councils, but only if those activities are consistent with the Authority’s objectives,(e) payment of any dividends, tax-equivalents or guarantee fees referred to in section 34 (2) (b), and any dividends of the kind referred to in section 59B of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983,(f) the costs incurred by the Authority in maintaining the Fund,(g) any other costs and expenses incurred by the Authority in connection with the exercise of its functions.s 24C: Ins 2001 No 74, Sch 1 [2]. Am 2001 No 92, Sch 2 [1].
24D Investment of Fund
The Authority may invest money in the Fund in any manner authorised by the Public Authorities (Financial Arrangements) Act 1987.s 24D: Ins 2001 No 74, Sch 1 [2].
24E Fees for services supplied by Authority
(1) The Authority may charge, for the supply of any services under this Act or the regulations, such fee as may be prescribed by the regulations for the supply of the service.(2) This section does not apply to the supply of water to the Sydney Water Corporation, or to the supply of any other service whose cost is determined or regulated under any arrangement, operating licence, memorandum of understanding or other instrument under this Act.s 24E: Ins 2001 No 74, Sch 1 [2].
Part 4 Control and accountability of Authority
Division 1 Operating licence
25 Grant of operating licence
(1) The Governor may grant an operating licence to enable the Authority, subject to any limitations specified in the operating licence, to provide, construct, operate, manage or maintain systems or services for the purpose of the exercise of any of its functions in accordance with this Act, whether within or outside the area of operations of the Authority.(2) While the operating licence is in force, the Authority is authorised to exercise, on behalf of the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation, the right to the use and flow, and to the control, of water conferred on the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation by section 12 of the Water Administration Act 1986 for the purposes referred to in subsection (1) of this section and for the purposes of extraction and transportation of water.(3) The authorisation given by subsection (2) in relation to the operating licence has effect only until such time as the Authority is granted a licence or permit by the relevant authority for the purposes referred to in that subsection and the Minister, by certificate published in the Gazette, certifies that such a licence or permit has been granted.(4) The authorisation given by subsection (2) in relation to the operating licence applies only so far as is relevant to the ambit of the operating licence and is subject to the terms and conditions of the operating licence.(5) This section has effect despite anything in the Water Administration Act 1986.
26 Terms and conditions of operating licence
(1) The operating licence is subject to the terms and conditions determined by the Governor, but must include terms or conditions under which the Authority is required:(a) to provide, construct, operate, manage and maintain efficient and co-ordinated viable systems and services for supplying water, and(b) to ensure that the systems and services meet the quality and performance standards specified in the operating licence in relation to water quality, service interruptions and other matters determined by the Governor and set out in the operating licence, and(c) to compile indicators (taking into account the catchment audits conducted under Part 5) on the ecological health of the catchment area (with particular reference to the vegetation cover, riparian zones and water quality) and of the impact of the Authority’s activities (including polluting activities) on the catchment area:(i) to enable preparation of an annual report on the Authority’s performance, and(ii) to provide information for a year to year comparison in relation to the Authority’s performance in this area, and(iii) to enable preparation of reports to Parliament as referred to in Division 5.(2) The operating licence is to provide for the preparation of an operational audit referred to in Division 2.
27 Amendment of operating licence
The Governor may amend the operating licence.
28 Term of operating licence
(1) The initial term of the operating licence is to be for a maximum of 5 years, as determined by the Governor.(2) After the initial term, the Governor may renew the operating licence for a maximum of 5 years at a time.(3) The operating licence may be renewed even if its term has expired.
29 Contravention of operating licence
(1) If, in the opinion of the Minister, the Authority contravenes the operating licence, the Minister may cause a notice to be served on the Authority requiring it to rectify the contravention within a specified period.(2) If, in the opinion of the Minister, the Authority contravenes the operating licence, and whether or not a notice has been served under subsection (1) or the period specified in the notice has ended, the Governor may direct that the Authority is to pay a monetary penalty in an amount to be determined by the Governor.(3) The fact that the Governor has directed that action be taken under this section does not prevent the Governor directing that the same or other action under this section be taken if the contravention continues or a fresh contravention occurs.(4) The operating licence may make provision for advice to be furnished to the Minister in connection with the exercise of the Minister’s functions under this section.(5) A penalty imposed under this section may be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction as if it were a debt due to the Crown.
29A Contravention of operating licence: action by Tribunal
(1) The Tribunal may impose a monetary penalty on the Authority.(2) The Tribunal may, instead of imposing a monetary penalty, require the Authority to take such action as the Tribunal considers appropriate in the circumstances, including (for example) requiring the sending of information to customers or the publication of notices in newspapers.(3) The Tribunal may not require action to be taken under subsection (2) by the Authority if the cost of that action would exceed the monetary penalty that the Tribunal could impose under this section on the Authority.(4) If the Tribunal requires information to be sent to a customer under subsection (2), the Authority may satisfy that requirement by sending the information to the customer with the next account or bill to be sent to the customer by the Authority or, if the Authority is sending other information to that customer before the next account or bill, with that other information.(5) Action may be taken under this section only if the Authority has knowingly contravened the operating licence.(6) The monetary penalty that the Tribunal may impose under this section must not exceed $10,000 for the first day on which the contravention concerned occurs and a further $1,000 for each subsequent day (not exceeding 30 days) on which the contravention continues.(7) The Tribunal must not take action under this section unless:(a) the Tribunal has considered whether the contravention has been or is likely to be the subject of any other penalty or action or any claim for compensation, and is satisfied that it is nevertheless appropriate to take action under this section, and(b) the Tribunal has considered the action that the Authority has taken or is likely to take in respect of the contravention and the cost to the Authority in taking that action, and is satisfied that it is nevertheless appropriate to take action under this section.(8) The Tribunal is required to consider the seriousness of the contravention concerned in determining to impose a monetary penalty under this section.(9) The Tribunal must not take action under this section unless:(a) notice of the proposed action has been given to the Authority, and(b) the Authority has been given a reasonable opportunity to make submissions with respect to the proposed action, and(c) the Tribunal has given due consideration to any such submissions.(10) The Tribunal must not take action under this section in respect of a contravention if any action has already been taken under section 29 in respect of the contravention.(11) Nothing in this section affects any powers under section 29 in respect of a contravention, whether or not the Tribunal has already taken action under this section in respect of the contravention.(12) A penalty imposed under this section may be recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction as if it were a debt due to the Crown.s 29A: Ins 2000 No 60, Sch 1.6 [5] (am 2000 No 93, Sch 2.23 [11]–[13]).
29B Review of certain decisions of Tribunal concerning operating licence
(1) The Authority, if aggrieved by a decision of the Tribunal to take action under section 29A in relation to the Authority, may apply to the Administrative Decisions Tribunal for a review of the decision.(2) Section 53 (Internal reviews) of the Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997 does not apply to such a decision of the Tribunal.s 29B: Ins 2000 No 60, Sch 1.6 [5].
30 Cancellation of operating licence
(1) The operating licence may be cancelled by the Governor, but only if:(a) the Authority ceases, otherwise than as authorised by the operating licence, to carry out its responsibilities in accordance with the operating licence or any of them in the area of operations of the Authority for any reason, or(b) the Authority:(i) is, in the opinion of the Minister, in material default in compliance with the operating licence, viewed in terms of the operation of the operating licence as a whole, and(ii) has not, within the time specified by the Minister in a notice to the Authority, either rectified the default or shown cause, to the satisfaction of the Minister, why the operating licence should not be cancelled, or(c) the Authority has been convicted on more than 3 occasions within a period of 12 months of criminal offences that are punishable by a fine of at least $10,000 or, if the Authority were a natural person, penal servitude or imprisonment for 12 months or more.(2) A notice under section 29 can be regarded also as a notice for the purposes of subsection (1) (b).(3) If the operating licence is cancelled under this section, the Governor may, by order published in the Gazette, vest in the Crown or a public authority (as specified in the order), from a date specified in the order, the assets and rights of the Authority that are specified in the order and that, in the opinion of the Minister, are necessary to enable the Crown or public authority to exercise such of the functions exercisable (or formerly exercisable) by the Authority as appear to be necessary in the public interest.(4) An order under this section may provide for:(a) the Crown or public authority to assume those liabilities of the Authority that the Governor considers appropriate and specifies in the order, or(b) the Crown to pay the whole or any part of the liabilities of the Authority.
Division 1A Regulatory functions of Tribunal
pt 4, div 1A (s 30A): Ins 2000 No 60, Sch 1.6 [6].
30A Regulatory functions of Tribunal
(1) The regulatory functions of the Tribunal under this Act are:(a) the function of making recommendations under subsection (2), and(b) the function of monitoring, reporting and informing under section 31 (1) (b) and (3) (a), and(c) the function of advising about penalties or remedial action under section 31 (3) (b), and(d) the function of imposing monetary penalties, or requiring other action to be taken, under section 29A, and(e) such other functions of the Tribunal under this Act as are specified by the regulations for the purposes of this section.(2) The Tribunal has the function of making recommendations to the Minister for or with respect to:(a) the granting, amendment or cancellation of the operating licence, and(b) the imposition, amendment or cancellation of conditions in relation to the operating licence.(3) Part 4B of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal Act 1992 applies in relation to the Tribunal’s regulatory functions under this Act.pt 4, div 1A (s 30A): Ins 2000 No 60, Sch 1.6 [6].
Division 2 Licence and other auditing functions of Tribunal
pt 4, div 2, hdg: Am 2000 No 60, Sch 1.6 [7].
31 Functions of Tribunal
(1) The functions of the Tribunal under this Division include the following:(a) to ensure that the operational audit is prepared in accordance with the operating licence,(b) to monitor, and report to the Minister on, compliance by the Authority with the operating licence,(c) to monitor, and report to the Minister on, compliance by the Authority and by other public authorities with the provisions of the regional environmental plan or plans referred to in section 53.(2) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to conferring other functions under this Division on the Tribunal, including, for example, monitoring and reporting on the activities of public authorities in and in relation to the catchment areas.(3) The Tribunal must:(a) inform the Minister about any failure of the Authority to meet operational standards or any other requirements imposed on the Authority under the operating licence, and(b) provide advice to the Minister about any penalties or remedial action required as a result of the Authority’s performance under the operating licence.(4) The Tribunal has such other functions under this Division as may be conferred or imposed on it by the operating licence.(5) The Tribunal is to report annually to the Minister in accordance with the requirements of this Division.(6) (Repealed)s 31: Am 2000 No 60, Sch 1.6 [8]–[11].
32 Report on operational audit
The Tribunal is to present to the Minister a report on each operational audit within one month after its receipt of the audit.s 32: Am 2000 No 60, Sch 1.6 [12].
33 Presentation of report to Parliament
(1) The Minister is to lay the report (or cause it to be laid) before both Houses of Parliament within one month after the Minister receives the report.(2) If a House of Parliament is not sitting when the Minister seeks to furnish a report to it, the Minister may present copies of the report to the Clerk of the House concerned.(3) The report:(a) on presentation and for all purposes is taken to have been laid before the House, and(b) may be printed by authority of the Clerk of the House, and(c) if printed by authority of the Clerk, is for all purposes taken to be a document published by or under the authority of the House, and(d) is to be recorded:(i) in the case of the Legislative Council—in the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Legislative Council, andon the first sitting day of the House after receipt of the report by the Clerk.(ii) in the case of the Legislative Assembly—in the Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly,
33A Cost of audit
(1) The Authority is required to pay to the Treasurer the cost (as certified by the Tribunal) involved in and in connection with carrying out the operational audit of the Authority.(2) Without limitation, an operating licence may include terms and conditions relating to the determination of the cost of carrying out the operational audit.s 33A: Ins 2000 No 60, Sch 1.6 [13].
Division 3 Statement of financial framework
34 Statement of financial framework
(1) The Board is to prepare a statement of financial framework for adoption by the Minister and the Treasurer. The statement of financial framework is to be complied with by and in relation to the Authority. It may be amended or replaced from time to time on the recommendation of the Board.(2) The statement of financial framework is to include, but is not limited to:(a) a statement of financial purpose, and(b) provisions for or with respect to the payment by the Authority of dividends, tax-equivalents and guarantee fees, as respectively defined in the statement of financial framework.(3) Nothing in this section or any other provision of this Act affects the application of section 59B of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 to the Authority.
Division 4 Memoranda of understanding
35 Definition
In this Division:regulatory agencies means:(a) the Director-General of the Department of Health, the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation, and the Environment Protection Authority, and(b) the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife, the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, local councils, county councils, and any persons, bodies or agencies for the time being nominated by order of the Minister communicated to the Authority.
36 Requirement to enter into certain memoranda of understanding
(1) The Authority is required to enter into memoranda of understanding respectively with the regulatory agencies referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of regulatory agencies in section 35. The following subsections of this section apply in relation to such a memorandum of understanding, and do not apply to memoranda of understanding with other regulatory agencies.(2) A memorandum of understanding is to be of the nature referred to in the operating licence.(3) The Authority is to enter into a memorandum of understanding with each regulatory agency as soon as practicable (but within 6 months) after the Authority is granted the operating licence.(4) A memorandum of understanding is to be reviewed, and amended or replaced, at such times and in such circumstances as are agreed on between the Authority and the regulatory agency concerned or as are determined by the Minister.(5) If the Authority and a regulatory agency are not able to enter into, or agree on a term of, a memorandum of understanding, the memorandum is to be entered into in accordance with the procedures determined by the Premier or is taken to be entered into in such terms as are determined by the Premier.
37 Direction to enter into certain memoranda of understanding
(1) The Minister may, from time to time, direct the Authority to enter into memoranda of understanding with such regulatory agencies referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition of the regulatory agencies in section 35 as the Minister determines. This section does not apply to a memorandum of understanding referred to in section 36.(2) The Minister may specify the matters to be dealt with in a memorandum of understanding and the period (not more than 6 months from the date of the direction) within which the memorandum is to be entered into.(3) A memorandum of understanding is to be reviewed, and amended or replaced, at such times and in such circumstances as are agreed on between the Authority and the regulatory agency concerned or as are determined by the Minister.(4) If the Authority and a regulatory agency are not able to enter into, or agree on a term of, a memorandum of understanding, the memorandum is to be entered into in accordance with the procedures determined by the Premier or is taken to be entered into in such terms as are determined by the Premier.
38 Public exhibition of memoranda of understanding
(1) The Authority must give notice of the preparation of each memorandum of understanding to which it is a party.(2) The notice is to be given in a newspaper circulating in the area of operations of the Authority and must:(a) specify the address of the place at which copies of the memorandum of understanding may be inspected, and(b) specify the address to which representations concerning the memorandum of understanding may be forwarded.(3) Any person may, within 30 days or such longer period as may be specified in the notice, make representations to the Authority and to the regulatory agency concerned about the memorandum of understanding.(4) The Authority and each regulatory agency must, on the expiration of the period referred to in subsection (3), and before entering into the memorandum of understanding, consider any representations made under this section.(5) Notice of the execution of a memorandum of understanding is to be published in the Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in the area of operations of the Authority within 14 days after the execution.(6) The requirements of this section apply to an amendment to a memorandum of understanding in the same way as they apply to a memorandum of understanding.
Division 5 Reports to Parliament
39 Reports
(1) In addition to its statutory annual report, the Authority must furnish reports to the Minister, for presentation to Parliament, on subjects and at times specified in the operating licence.(2) The Minister is to lay such a report (or cause it to be laid) before both Houses of Parliament within one month after the Minister receives the report.(3) If a House of Parliament is not sitting when the Minister seeks to furnish a report to it, the Minister may present copies of the report to the Clerk of the House concerned.(4) The report:(a) on presentation and for all purposes is taken to have been laid before the House, and(b) may be printed by authority of the Clerk of the House, and(c) if printed by authority of the Clerk, is for all purposes taken to be a document published by or under the authority of the House, and(d) is to be recorded:(i) in the case of the Legislative Council—in the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Legislative Council, andon the first sitting day of the House after receipt of the report by the Clerk.(ii) in the case of the Legislative Assembly—in the Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly,
40 Other documents to be presented to Parliament
(1) In addition to the reports referred to in section 39, the Minister is to lay (or cause to be laid) before both Houses of Parliament copies of the following documents within the time specified in this section in relation to the document concerned:(a) any order varying the area of operations of the Authority—within 15 days after the order is published in the Gazette,(b) the operating licence (and any amendments to the operating licence)—within 90 days after the licence is granted (or amended),(c) the statement of financial framework referred to in section 34—within 14 days after it is adopted,(d) each regional environmental plan referred to in section 53—within 12 months after it is published in the Gazette.(2) Section 39 (3) and (4) apply to and in respect of a copy of a document referred to in this section in the same way as they apply to a report referred to in section 39 (1).
Part 5 Catchment areas
Division 1 Catchment areas
41 Declaration of catchment areas
(1) The Governor may, by order published in the Gazette, declare an area of land specified in the order to be or to be part of the inner catchment area of the Authority.(2) The Governor may, by order published in the Gazette, declare an area of land specified in the order to be or to be part of the outer catchment area of the Authority.
42 Catchment audits
(1) Within 5 months after the commencement of section 41 (2), the nominated person must:(a) conduct an audit (a catchment audit) of the state of the land constituting the catchment area of the Authority, and(b) present a report on that audit to the Minister.(2) The nominated person must conduct subsequent catchment audits, and report to the Minister on those audits, at intervals of no more than 2 years calculated from the date of the first report.(3) Section 39 (2)–(4) apply to and in respect of a report furnished to the Minister under this section in the same way as they apply to a report referred to in section 39 (1).(4) In this section, nominated person means a public authority, or other person, nominated by the Minister. However, the Minister is not to nominate the Authority for the purposes of this section.
Division 2 Special areas
43 Definitions
In this Division:joint sponsors means the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife and the Authority.Ministers means the Minister and the Minister for the Environment.public agency means the Governor, a Minister, or a public authority.
44 Special areas
(1) The Governor may, on the recommendation of the Minister, by order published in the Gazette, declare an area of land specified in the order to be a special area.(2) The Minister may not recommend the making of such an order unless the Minister certifies that the Minister is satisfied that the making of the order is necessary for either or both of the following purposes:(a) protecting the quality of stored waters, whether intended for use for drinking or other purposes,(b) maintaining the ecological integrity of an area of land to be declared to be a special area in a manner that is consistent with the Authority’s objectives.(3) The Minister must cause a copy of an order made under this section, including an order amending an order, to be tabled in each House of Parliament within 14 sitting days of that House after the order has been published in the Gazette.(4) A special area must not be reduced in size, and an order declaring an area of land to be a special area must not be repealed, unless authorised by an Act of Parliament.
45 Restriction on alienation of land in special areas
(1) The Authority must not alienate, mortgage, charge or demise land in a special area that is owned by or vested in the Authority unless:(a) to or in favour of the Minister administering the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (at no cost to that Minister), or(b) authorised by an Act of Parliament.(2) As soon as practicable after the commencement of this section, the Minister is to review all the land referred to in clause 5 (1) of Schedule 6 that is owned by or vested in the Authority.(3) If, as a result of the review, the Minister determines that the objectives of the Authority would be more effectively attained if the land concerned were vested in the Minister administering the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, the Authority is to transfer the land under subsection (1) (a) as soon as practicable after the determination is made.(4) Nothing in subsection (1) operates:(a) to extinguish or otherwise affect any existing lease or other interest in the land in a special area, or(b) to prevent the renewal of any such lease or other interest, or(c) to prevent the grant of a lease or other interest in the land in accordance with any plan of management prepared in relation to the land under this Act.
46 Crown land in special areas
(1) Action may not be taken under the Crown Lands Act 1989 in relation to land in a special area unless the Authority has given written approval and any conditions to which the approval is subject are complied with.(2) The Authority may, in a special area, exercise the functions of a person or body appointed to manage the affairs of a reserve trust under Part 5 of the Crown Lands Act 1989 without being appointed as such.
47 Exercise of functions by public agencies in special areas
(1) A public agency may not, in relation to land within a special area, exercise functions other than functions under this Act unless notice is first given to the Authority.(2) On receiving a notice referred to in this section, the Authority may make such representations to the public agency as the Authority thinks fit.(3) A public agency may not exercise functions contrary to any such representations unless, before the exercise of the functions, not less than 28 days’ notice has been given to the Authority of the functions intended to be exercised.(4) If a public agency has functions with regard to a development application or an application for a complying development certificate relating to land within a special area to which an environmental planning instrument applies, the forwarding of the application or a copy of it to the Authority, whether by the public agency or the applicant, is taken also to be the giving of notice for the purposes of this section.(5) This section does not apply to a public agency’s functions with regard to the making of an environmental planning instrument in relation to land within a special area.(6) This section does not apply to a public agency’s functions with regard to a development application, if an environmental planning instrument applying in the special area prevents the development application from being determined by the granting of consent without the concurrence of the Authority.
48 Regulations concerning special areas
(1) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to special areas, including charges or payments for abstraction of water and the regulation or prohibition of abstracting, using, polluting or contaminating waters or polluting or contaminating land within such areas.(2) A regulation made under this Division prevails to the extent of any inconsistency with an instrument made under another Act, including an environmental planning instrument.
49 Plans of management
(1) The joint sponsors are jointly required to cause a plan of management to be prepared for each special area as soon as practicable after it has been declared to be a special area.(2) When a plan of management has been prepared, the joint sponsors must give notice of the plan in a newspaper circulating throughout New South Wales and must, in that notice:(a) specify the address of the place at which copies of the plan of management may be inspected, and(b) specify the address to which representations concerning the plan of management may be forwarded.(3) Any person may, within 30 days or such longer period as may be specified in the notice, make representations to the joint sponsors concerning the plan of management.(4) The joint sponsors must, on the expiration of the period referred to in subsection (3), and before submitting the plan of management to the Ministers, consider any representations made under this section.(5) The Ministers may adopt a plan of management without alteration or with such alterations as the Ministers think fit or may refer it back to the joint sponsors for further consideration.(6) If the Ministers refer a plan of management back for further consideration, the joint sponsors must resubmit it after considering it further and making any appropriate alterations.(7) The Ministers may:(a) amend or alter a plan of management from time to time, or(b) cancel a plan of management, or(c) cancel a plan of management and substitute a new plan.(8) Before doing any of the things referred to in subsection (7), the Ministers may consult with any person or body (including persons or bodies other than the joint sponsors) that the Ministers think fit.(9) Subsections (2)–(4) apply to an amendment or alteration of a plan of management in the same way as they apply to a plan of management.
50 Operations under plan of management
(1) A plan of management adopted under this Act for a special area must be carried out and given effect to by the joint sponsors.(2) Subject to the requirements of any other Act or any instrument under any other Act, no operations are to be undertaken by the joint sponsors in relation to the lands within the special area unless the operations are in accordance with the plan.(3) The joint sponsors (together or individually) may engage such contractors (including government agencies) as may be necessary or convenient to assist them in carrying out and giving effect to the plan.s 50: Am 2001 No 92, Sch 2 [2] [3].
Division 3 Controlled areas
51 Controlled areas
(1) The Governor may, on the recommendation of the Minister, by order published in the Gazette, declare an area of land specified in the order to be a controlled area.(2) An order under this section applies to land only while it is owned by or vested in the Authority.
52 Regulations concerning controlled areas
(1) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to controlled areas, including the regulation or prohibition of abstracting, using, polluting or contaminating waters or polluting or contaminating land within such areas.(2) A regulation made under this Division prevails to the extent of any inconsistency with an instrument made under another Act, including an environmental planning instrument.
Division 4 Regional environmental plan
53 Regional environmental plan to be made
(1) For the purpose of making all land in the catchment area subject to a regional environmental plan, the Minister administering Division 3 of Part 3 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 must ensure that one or more such plans are made as soon as practicable after the presentation (to the Minister administering this Act) of the report on the first catchment audit conducted under Part 5.(2) A regional environmental plan made pursuant to this section is taken to be made with respect to matters of significance for environmental planning for the region or part of the region to which it applies.(3) Without affecting the generality of any of the provisions of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, a regional environmental plan required by this section is to make provision for or with respect to the following:(a) imposing controls subject to which State agencies and local authorities (including the local council, if any) may take action and make decisions concerning development of the land to which the plan applies,(b) setting water quality objectives for that land,(c) requiring consent authorities to refuse to grant development consent to a development application relating to land to which the plan applies unless the consent authority is satisfied that the carrying out of the proposed development would have a neutral or beneficial effect on the quality of water,(d) requiring the development of action plans to rectify any development of the land to which the plan applies that does not have a neutral or beneficial effect on the quality of water,(e) declaring that the regional environmental plan prevails over a local environmental plan made before or after the regional environmental plan to the extent of any inconsistency.(4) In this section, , development, development application, development consent, region and regional environmental plan have the same meanings as they have in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Part 6 Provisions relating to works and land
54 Ownership of works
(1) The Authority is the owner of all works installed by the Authority in or on land, in rivers and other waterways and in or on the beds of rivers and waterways and of all works in or on land or in water vested in or transferred to the Authority (whether or not the land is owned by the Authority).(2) The Authority may, subject to this Act, operate, repair, replace, maintain, remove, extend, expand, connect, disconnect, improve or do any other things that are necessary or appropriate to any of its works to ensure that, in the opinion of the Authority, the works are used in an efficient manner for the purposes for which they were installed.(3) The Authority may sell or otherwise deal with works that it owns.
55 Entry on to land
(1) The Authority may, by persons issued with certificates of authority under section 56, enter and occupy land or a building in accordance with this Part for any one or more of the following purposes:(a) to operate, repair, replace, maintain, remove, extend, expand, connect, disconnect, improve or do any other things that the Authority considers are necessary or appropriate to any of its works or to construct new works and, for these purposes, to carry out any work on, below or above the surface of the land,(b) to ascertain the character and condition of the land or a building to enable the Authority to operate, repair, replace, maintain, remove, extend, expand, connect, disconnect or improve, or do any other thing to, the Authority’s systems and services for the purposes of carrying out the terms and conditions of the operating licence,(c) to ascertain whether:(i) an offence against this Act or the regulations has been committed, or(ii) an offence against another Act or regulations under another Act has been committed within a catchment area, being an offence prescribed by the regulations,(d) to find the source of pollution of water in a catchment area and, for this purpose, to dig up and remove material from the land.(2) Material that has been excavated from land for the purposes of this section may only be removed from the land by the Authority:(a) if this is necessary for the purpose of ascertaining whether:(i) an offence against this Act or the regulations has been committed, or(ii) an offence against another Act or regulations under another Act has been committed within a catchment area, being an offence prescribed by the regulations, or(b) if the owner of the land has consented to its removal.
56 Certificates of authority
(1) The Authority may authorise an officer of the Authority or the holder for the time being of an office in the Authority’s establishment to issue certificates of authority for the purposes of this Act.(2) Such an officer or holder of an office may issue certificates of authority.(3) A certificate of authority must:(a) state that it is issued under this Act, and(b) specify the person or class of persons who are authorised to exercise the power of entry under this Act, and(c) describe the nature of the powers proposed to be exercised, and(d) state the date (if any) on which it expires, and(e) bear the signature of the person by whom it is issued.(4) The Minister may, if the Minister thinks fit, by order published in the Gazette, impose conditions or restrictions on certificates of authority issued under this Act, either generally or in particular cases, including restrictions on the purposes for which and the circumstances in which a power of entry may be exercised.
57 Exercise of powers of entry
(1) Before a person enters any land or building under a power conferred by this Part, the Authority or a person must serve on the owner or occupier of the land or building notice in writing of the intention to enter the land or building on a day or days specified in the notice unless:(a) entry to the land or building is made with the consent of the owner or occupier of the land or building, or(b) entry is required urgently and the case is one in which the Board has authorised in writing (either generally or in the particular case) entry without notice, or(c) the giving of notice would defeat the purpose for which the power is to be exercised.(2) A power conferred by this Part to enter any land or building may not be exercised unless the person proposing to exercise the power:(a) is in possession of a certificate of authority issued under section 56, and(b) exercises the power at a reasonable time during daylight, unless this would defeat the purpose for which the power is to be exercised or the power is exercised in an emergency, and(c) produces the certificate of authority if required to do so by the occupier of the land, and(d) uses no more force than is reasonably necessary to effect the entry.(3) Nothing in this section authorises the use of force to enter a dwelling-house or any enclosed part of a building occupied as a dwelling or authorises the entry of such premises at night without the consent of the owner or occupier of the premises unless entry is required urgently and the case is one in which the Board has authorised (in writing, and either generally or in the particular case) entry without notice.
58 Compensation by Authority for damage
(1) The Authority, in exercising its functions under this Part, is to do as little damage as practicable and is, subject to this Part, to compensate all persons who suffer damage by the exercise of the functions.(2) Compensation may be made by reinstatement, repair, construction of works or payment.
59 Compensation to Authority for damage
(1) Without limiting the provisions referred to in section 62 (1) (c), a person who, without the consent of the Authority, carries out any activity that causes destruction of, damage to or interference with any work owned by the Authority in circumstances in which the person should have known that the destruction, damage or interference would result from the carrying out of the activity, is liable to compensate the Authority for all loss or damage suffered by the Authority as a result.(2) The Authority is not entitled to compensation both under this section and another provision of this Act for the same destruction, damage or interference.(3) A reference in this section to a person extends to any person:(a) who caused the carrying out of the activity, or(b) by whose order or direction the activity was carried out, or(c) who aided, assisted, counselled or procured the carrying out of the activity.(4) The Authority may proceed against a person for recovery of its loss or compensation for its damage under this section whether or not the Authority has proceeded against the person principally responsible for the loss or damage or any other person involved in the carrying out of the activity that caused the loss or damage.
60 Acquisition of land for purposes of this Act
(1) The Authority may acquire land (including an interest in land) for the purposes of this Act.(2) Land that the Authority is authorised to acquire under this section may be acquired by agreement or by compulsory process in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 for the purposes of this Act.(3) The Authority may not give a proposed acquisition notice under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 without the approval of the Minister.
61 Approval of infrastructure activities in area of operations
(1) In this section:infrastructure activity means any development or other activity of any kind:(a) that is proposed to be carried out within the area of operations of the Authority:(i) on land owned or leased by, or leased to, the Authority, or(ii) on other land but under a contract to which the Authority is a party, and(b) that, but for this section, would be subject in any respect to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the Local Government Act 1993 or any instrument in force under either of those Acts.(2) The Minister may approve the carrying out of an infrastructure activity, if the Minister certifies in the instrument of approval that the carrying out of the activity is:(a) required to protect the quality of water supplied by the Authority, and(b) required in the interests of public health or public safety, and(c) required to be carried out urgently.(3) If the Minister has given such an approval, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Local Government Act 1993 and any instruments in force under either of those Acts do not apply to or in respect of:(a) the approval of the Minister to the carrying out of that activity, or(b) the carrying out of that activity, or(c) the use at any time of the works with which that activity is concerned, or(d) the land on which that activity is carried out or proposed to be carried out or on which those works are used or proposed to be used, so far as is relevant to that activity or those works.
62 Application of certain provisions
(1) The following provisions of the Sydney Water Act apply to and in relation to the Authority:(a) section 42 (Power to open roads),(b) section 43 (Altering position of conduit),(c) section 44 (Protection of works).(2) Those provisions so apply with any necessary adaptations and with the adaptations (if any) prescribed by the regulations, and as if:(a) references to the Sydney Water Corporation were references to the Authority, and(b) references to an operating licence were references to the operating licence under this Act.
Part 7 Offences
63 Illegal diversion of water
A person must not:(a) wrongfully take, use or divert any water that is available for supply by the Authority or that is in any pipe or work used for supply by the Authority, or(b) wrongfully alter the index of a meter or prevent a meter from duly registering the quantity of water supplied by the Authority.Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units (or 200 penalty units in the case of a corporation).
64 Offence to discharge into works
(1) A person must not discharge any substance into a work owned by or under the control of the Authority except with the written agreement of the Authority.Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units (or 200 penalty units in the case of a corporation).(2) This section does not apply to the use of a work by a person in accordance with a contract or arrangement between the Authority and a person.
65 Penalty notices
(1) An authorised person may serve a penalty notice on a person if it appears to the authorised person that the person has committed:(a) an offence against this Act or the regulations, orbeing an offence prescribed by the regulations.(b) an offence against another Act or regulations under another Act committed within a catchment area,(2) A penalty notice is a notice to the effect that, if the person served does not wish to have the matter determined by a court, the person may pay, within the time and to the person specified in the notice, the penalty prescribed by the regulations for the offence if dealt with under this section.(3) A penalty notice may be served personally or by post.(4) If the amount of the penalty prescribed for the alleged offence is paid under this section, no person is liable to any further proceedings for the alleged offence.(5) Payment under this section is not an admission of liability for the purposes of, and does not affect or prejudice, any civil claim, action or proceeding arising out of the same occurrence.(6) The regulations may:(a) prescribe an offence for the purposes of this section by specifying the offence or by referring to the provision creating the offence, and(b) prescribe the amount of penalty for the offence if dealt with under this section, and(c) prescribe different amounts of penalty for different offences or classes of offences.(7) The amount of penalty prescribed under this section for an offence may not exceed the maximum amount of penalty which could be imposed for the offence by a court.(8) This section does not limit the operation of any other provision of, or made under, this or any other Act relating to proceedings which may be taken in respect of offences.(9) In this section:means a person appointed in writing by the Minister as an authorised person for the purposes of this section.
66 Payment of penalty does not affect other proceedings
(1) Prosecution or conviction of a person for an act or omission that is an offence against this Act does not affect any right of the Authority to take civil proceedings or any other action to recover from the person:(a) an amount in respect of loss or damage caused by the act or omission, or(b) the expenses incurred by the Authority in remedying the loss or damage, or(c) the value of water lost to the Authority because of the act or omission.(2) Payment of a penalty for an offence against this Act does not affect any right of the Authority to institute any other action or proceeding.
67 Persons causing offences
(1) A person:(a) who causes the commission of an offence against this Act or the regulations, or(b) by whose order or direction an offence against this Act or the regulations is committed, oris guilty of an offence against this Act or the regulations and liable to a penalty in the same way as the principal offender.(c) who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of an offence against this Act or the regulations,(2) A person may be proceeded against for an offence under subsection (1) whether or not the principal offender has been prosecuted or convicted.
68 Disposal of proceedings for offences
(1) Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations are to be disposed of summarily before:(a) a Local Court constituted by a Magistrate sitting alone, or(b) the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction.(2) The maximum monetary penalty that may be imposed by a Local Court in proceedings for an offence against this Act is 100 penalty units or the maximum monetary penalty for the offence, whichever is the lesser.s 68: Am 1999 No 85, Sch 2.67.
69 Time within which proceedings may be commenced
(1) Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations may be commenced within but not later than 2 years after the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.(2) Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations may also be commenced within but not later than 2 years after the date on which evidence of the alleged offence first came to the attention of any authorised officer.(3) If subsection (2) is relied on for the purpose of commencing proceedings for an offence, the information or application must contain particulars of the date on which evidence of the offence first came to the attention of any authorised officer and need not contain particulars of the date on which the offence was committed. The date on which evidence first came to the attention of any authorised officer is the date specified in the information or application, unless the contrary is established.(4) This section applies despite anything in the Justices Act 1902 or any other Act.(5) In this section:means any officer of the Authority who is designated by the Authority as an authorised officer for the purposes of this section or whose official duties are concerned with the enforcement of this Act or the regulations or with the investigation or prosecution of offences or alleged offences against this Act or the regulations, and includes any class of persons prescribed by the regulations.evidence of an offence means evidence of any act or omission constituting the offence.
Part 8 Miscellaneous
70 Transfer of staff, assets, rights and liabilities to Authority
Schedule 3 has effect.
71 Amendment of Sydney Water Act
The Sydney Water Act is amended as set out in Schedule 4.
72 Amendment of other Acts
The Acts specified in Schedule 5 are amended as set out in that Schedule.
73 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 6 has effect.
74 Regulations
(1) The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.(2) A regulation may create an offence punishable by a penalty for a breach of the regulation not exceeding:(a) 200 penalty units in the case of an offence by a corporation, or(b) 100 penalty units in any other case.
75 Review of Act
(1) The Minister is to review this Act to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives.(2) The review is to be undertaken as soon as possible after the period of 5 years from the date of assent to this Act.(3) A report on the outcome of the review is to be tabled in each House of Parliament within 12 months after the end of the period of 5 years.
Schedule 1 Constitution and procedure of Board
(Section 7)
1 Definitions
In this Schedule:appointed member means a member of the Board other than the Chief Executive.Chairperson means the Chairperson of the Board.member means a member of the Board.
2 Chairperson of Board
(1) Of the appointed members, one is, in and by the member’s instrument of appointment as a member or in and by another instrument executed by the Minister, to be appointed as Chairperson of the Board.(2) The Minister may remove a member from the office of Chairperson at any time.(3) A person who is a member and Chairperson vacates office as Chairperson if the person:(a) is removed from that office by the Minister, or(b) resigns that office by instrument in writing addressed to the Minister, or(c) ceases to be a member.
3 Deputies
(1) The Chief Executive may, from time to time, appoint a person to be his or her deputy, and the Chief Executive or the Minister may revoke any such appointment.(2) The Minister may, from time to time, appoint a person to be the deputy of an appointed member, and the Minister may revoke any such appointment.(3) In the absence of a member, the member’s deputy:(a) is, if available, to act in the place of the member, and(b) while so acting, has all the functions of the member and is taken to be a member.(4) The deputy of a member who is Chairperson does not have the member’s functions as Chairperson.(5) A person while acting in the place of a member is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the Minister may from time to time determine in respect of the person.
4 Terms of office of appointed members
Subject to this Schedule, an appointed member holds office for such period (not exceeding 3 years) as may be specified in the member’s instrument of appointment, but is eligible (if otherwise qualified) for re-appointment.
5 Remuneration of appointed members
An appointed member is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the Minister may from time to time determine in respect of the member.
6 Vacancy in office of appointed member
(1) The office of an appointed member becomes vacant if the member:(a) dies, or(b) completes a term of office and is not re-appointed, or(c) resigns the office by instrument in writing addressed to the Minister, or(d) is removed from office by the Minister under this clause or by the Governor under Part 8 of the Public Sector Management Act 1988, or(e) is absent from 4 consecutive meetings of the Board of which reasonable notice has been given to the member personally or in the ordinary course of post, except on leave granted by the Board or unless, before the expiration of 4 weeks after the last of those meetings, the member is excused by the Board for having been absent from those meetings, or(f) becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounds with his or her creditors or makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for their benefit, or(g) becomes a mentally incapacitated person, or(h) is convicted in New South Wales of an offence that is punishable by penal servitude or imprisonment for 12 months or more or is convicted elsewhere than in New South Wales of an offence that, if committed in New South Wales, would be an offence so punishable.(2) The Minister may remove an appointed member from office at any time.
7 Disclosure of pecuniary interests
(1) If:(a) a member has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter being considered or about to be considered at a meeting of the Board, andthe member must, as soon as possible after the relevant facts have come to the member’s knowledge, disclose the nature of the interest at a meeting of the Board.(b) the interest appears to raise a conflict with the proper performance of the member’s duties in relation to the consideration of the matter,(2) A disclosure by a member at a meeting of the Board that the member:(a) is a member, or is in the employment, of a specified company or other body, or(b) is a partner, or is in the employment, of a specified person, oris a sufficient disclosure of the nature of the interest in any matter relating to that company or other body or to that person that may arise after the date of the disclosure and that is required to be disclosed under subclause (1).(c) has some other specified interest relating to a specified company or other body or to a specified person,(3) Particulars of any disclosure made under this clause are to be recorded by the Board in a book kept for the purpose and that book is to be open at all reasonable hours to inspection by any person on payment of the fee determined by the Board.(4) After a member has disclosed the nature of an interest in any matter, the member must not, unless the Minister or the Board otherwise determines:(a) be present during any deliberation of the Board with respect to the matter, or(b) take part in any decision of the Board with respect to the matter.(5) For the purposes of the making of a determination by the Board under subclause (4), a member who has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter to which the disclosure relates must not:(a) be present during any deliberation of the Board for the purpose of making the determination, or(b) take part in the making by the Board of the determination.(6) A contravention of this clause does not invalidate any decision of the Board.(7) This clause does not apply to or in respect of an interest of a member (being the provision of goods or services to the member by the Authority) if the goods or services are, or are to be, available to members of the public on the same terms and conditions.
8 Filling of vacancy in office of appointed member
If the office of any appointed member becomes vacant, a person is, subject to this Act, to be appointed to fill the vacancy.
9 Effect of certain other Acts
(1) The Public Sector Management Act 1988 does not apply to the appointment of an appointed member, and an appointed member is not, as a member, subject to that Act (except Part 8).(2) If by or under any Act provision is made:(a) requiring a person who is the holder of a specified office to devote the whole of his or her time to the duties of that office, orthe provision does not operate to disqualify the person from holding that office and also the office of an appointed member or from accepting and retaining any remuneration payable to the person under this Act as such a member.(b) prohibiting the person from engaging in employment outside the duties of that office,(3) The office of an appointed member is not, for the purposes of any Act, an office or place of profit under the Crown.
10 General procedure
The procedure for the calling of meetings of the Board and for the conduct of business at those meetings is, subject to this Act and the regulations, to be as determined by the Board.
11 Quorum
The quorum for a meeting of the Board is a majority of the members for the time being.
12 Presiding member
(1) The Chairperson or, in the absence of the Chairperson, another member elected to chair the meeting by the members present is (subject to subclause (2)) to preside at a meeting of the Board.(2) If the Chief Executive is not the Chairperson, the Chief Executive (if present) is to preside in the absence of the Chairperson at a meeting of the Board.(3) The person presiding at any meeting of the Board has a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, has a second or casting vote.
13 Voting
A decision supported by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present is the decision of the Board.
14 Transaction of business outside meetings or by telephone or other means
(1) The Board may, if it thinks fit, transact any of its business by the circulation of papers among all the members for the time being, and a resolution in writing approved in writing by a majority of those members is taken to be a decision of the Board.(2) The Board may, if it thinks fit, transact any of its business at a meeting at which members (or some members) participate by telephone, closed-circuit television or other means, but only if any member who speaks on a matter before the meeting can be heard by the other members.(3) For the purposes of:(a) the approval of a resolution under subclause (1), orthe Chairperson and each member have the same voting rights they have at an ordinary meeting of the Board.(b) a meeting held in accordance with subclause (2),(4) A resolution approved under subclause (1) is, subject to the regulations, to be recorded in the minutes of the Board.(5) Papers may be circulated among members of the Board for the purposes of subclause (1) by facsimile or other transmission of the information in the papers concerned.
15 First meeting
The Minister is to call the first meeting of the Board in such manner as the Minister thinks fit.
Schedule 2 Provisions relating to Chief Executive
(Section 9)
1 Employment of Chief Executive
The employment of the Chief Executive is subject to Part 2A of the Public Sector Management Act 1988, but is not subject to Part 2 of that Act.
2 Performance criteria
The performance criteria dealt with in the Chief Executive’s contract of employment under the Public Sector Management Act 1988 are to include criteria that require improvement of the quality of the water in catchment areas.
3 Acting Chief Executive
(1) The Minister may, from time to time, appoint a person to act in the office of Chief Executive during the illness or absence of the Chief Executive, and the person, while so acting, has all the functions of the Chief Executive and is taken to be the Chief Executive.(2) The Minister may, at any time, remove any person from an office to which the person was appointed under this clause.(3) A person while acting in the office of Chief Executive is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the Minister may from time to time determine in respect of the person.(4) For the purposes of this clause, a vacancy in the office of Chief Executive is taken to be an absence from office of Chief Executive.
Schedule 3 Transfer of staff, assets, rights and liabilities to Authority
(Section 70)
1 Definitions
(1) In this Schedule:assets means any legal or equitable estate or interest (whether present or future and whether vested or contingent) in real or personal property of any description (including money), and includes securities, choses in action and documents.Corporation means the Sydney Water Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.instrument means an instrument (other than this Act) that creates, modifies or extinguishes rights or liabilities (or would do so if lodged, filed or registered in accordance with any law), and includes any judgment, order or process of a court.liabilities means any liabilities, debts or obligations (whether present or future and whether vested or contingent).rights means any rights, powers, privileges or immunities (whether present or future and whether vested or contingent).(2) In this Schedule, the person or body from which any staff, assets, rights or liabilities are transferred is called the transferor, and the person or body to which they are transferred is called the transferee.
2 Order for transfer of staff, assets, rights and liabilities from Sydney Water Corporation
(1) The Governor may, by order in writing, direct that such staff, assets, rights and liabilities of the Corporation:(a) as are specified in the order, andbe transferred to the Authority or to a subsidiary of the Authority.(b) as are certified in the order as:(i) relating exclusively or principally to the inner catchment area, or(ii) being appropriate to be transferred to enable the Authority to exercise its functions efficiently and economically,(2) An order under this clause may be made on such terms and conditions as are specified in the order.(3) For the purposes of or incidental to the transfer of any staff, assets, rights or liabilities under this clause, the Corporation is, in the exercise of its functions, subject to the control and direction of the Minister.
3 Order for transfer of other staff, assets, rights and liabilities
(1) The Governor may, by order in writing, direct that such other staff, assets, rights or liabilities used by or attaching to the Corporation for the supply of water and associated purposes, and belonging to the State or an authority of the State:(a) as are specified in the order, andbe transferred to the Authority or to a subsidiary of the Authority.(b) as are certified in the order as:(i) relating exclusively or principally to the inner catchment area, or(ii) being appropriate to be transferred to enable the Authority to exercise its functions efficiently and economically,(2) An order under this clause may be made on such terms and conditions as are specified in the order.(3) For the purposes of or incidental to the transfer of any staff, assets, rights or liabilities under this clause from an authority of the State, the authority of the State is, in the exercise of its functions, subject to the control and direction of the Minister.
4 Facilitating provisions of orders
(1) An order under this Schedule may include such provisions as are necessary or convenient for giving effect to the order, including provisions for or with respect to the following:(a) the transfer of staff,(b) the transfer or apportionment of assets, rights and liabilities,(c) the delivery or retention of records,(d) the termination, cessation, dissolution or abolition of anything existing before the order takes effect,(e) the preservation or continuance of anything existing before the order takes effect.(2) Such an order may:(a) apply generally or be limited in its application by reference to specified exceptions or factors, or(b) apply differently according to different factors of a specified kind, oror may do any combination of those things.(c) authorise any matter or thing to be from time to time determined, applied or regulated by any specified person or body,
5 Transfer of staff
A member of staff who is transferred by an order under this Schedule is (until other provision is duly made under any Act or law) to be employed in accordance with any relevant statutory provisions, awards, agreements and determinations that would have applied to the person had the person not been transferred but remained a member of the staff of the transferor.
6 Transfer of assets, rights and liabilities
When any assets, rights or liabilities are transferred by an order under this Schedule, the following provisions have effect (subject to the order):(a) the assets vest in the transferee by virtue of this Schedule and without the need for any conveyance, transfer, assignment or assurance,(b) the rights and liabilities become by virtue of this Schedule the rights and liabilities of the transferee,(c) all proceedings relating to the assets, rights and liabilities commenced before the transfer by or against the transferor or a predecessor of the transferor and pending immediately before the transfer are taken to be proceedings pending by or against the transferee,(d) any act, matter or thing done or omitted to be done in relation to the assets, rights and liabilities before the transfer by, to or in respect of the transferor is (to the extent that the act, matter or thing has any force or effect) taken to have been done or omitted by, to or in respect of the transferee,(e) a reference in any Act, instrument or document of any kind to the transferor or a predecessor of the transferor is (to the extent to which it relates to the assets, rights and liabilities, and subject to regulations under clause 1 (1) of Schedule 6) to be read as, or as including, a reference to the transferee.
7 Operation of Schedule
(1) The operation of this Schedule is not to be regarded:(a) as a breach of contract or confidence or otherwise as a civil wrong, or(b) as a breach of any contractual provision prohibiting, restricting or regulating the assignment or transfer of assets, rights or liabilities, or(c) as giving rise to any remedy by a party to an instrument, or as causing or permitting the termination of any instrument, because of a change in the beneficial or legal ownership of any asset, right or liability.(2) The operation of this Schedule is not to be regarded as an event of default under any contract or other instrument.(3) No attornment to the transferor by a lessee from the transferee is required.(4) No compensation is payable to any person or body in connection with a transfer under this Schedule except to the extent (if any) to which the order giving rise to the transfer so provides.(5) Subclause (4) does not affect the rights of any member of staff who is the subject of a transfer under this Schedule.(6) The operation of this Schedule includes the making of an order under this Schedule.
8 Date of transfer
An order under this Schedule takes effect on the date specified in the order.
9 Stamp duty
Duty is not chargeable in respect of:(a) the transfer of assets, rights and liabilities by an order under this Schedule, or(b) anything certified by the Minister as having been done in consequence of such a transfer (for example, the transfer or registration of an interest in land).
10 Confirmation of vesting
(1) The Minister may, by notice in writing, confirm a transfer of particular assets, rights and liabilities by operation of this Schedule.(2) Such a notice is conclusive evidence of that transfer.
Schedule 4 Amendment of Sydney Water Act
(Section 71)
[1] Section 3 Definitions
Omit the definitions of outer catchment area and special area from section 3 (2).
[2] Section 3A
Insert after section 3:(1) This Act has effect subject to the Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998.(2) The Governor may amend or substitute any operating licence in consequence of the enactment of the Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998, but only for the purpose of conferring functions on the Sydney Catchment Authority or in consequence of conferring functions on the Authority.(3) Any such amended or substituted operating licence may, without limitation:(a) divest the Corporation of functions for which the Sydney Catchment Authority becomes or is to become responsible, and(b) make provision for or with respect to the receipt by the Corporation of water supplied by the Sydney Catchment Authority, and(c) make such necessary or consequential modifications to the operation of any of the provisions of this Act as are specified in the operating licence.(4) Accordingly, and despite anything in this Act, the Corporation ceases to have those functions or to have any responsibilities in relation to them as from the time the amendment or substitution takes effect, except so far as an operating licence otherwise provides, and this Act operates with those modifications.
[3] Section 16 Amendment of operating licences
Insert after section 16 (3):(4) The other provisions of this section do not apply to the amendment or substitution of an operating licence under section 3A.
[4] Section 46A
Insert after section 46:46A Approval of infrastructure activities in area of operations(1) In this section:infrastructure activity means any development or other activity of any kind:(a) that is proposed to be carried out within the area of operations of the Corporation:(i) on land owned or leased by, or leased to, the Corporation, or(ii) on other land but under a contract to which the Corporation is a party, and(b) that, but for this section, would be subject in any respect to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the Local Government Act 1993 or any instrument in force under either of those Acts.(2) The Minister may approve the carrying out of an infrastructure activity, if the Minister certifies in the instrument of approval that the carrying out of the activity is:(a) required to protect the quality of water supplied by the Corporation, and(b) required in the interests of public health or public safety, and(c) required to be carried out urgently.(3) If the Minister has given such an approval, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Local Government Act 1993 and any instruments in force under either of those Acts do not apply to or in respect of:(a) the approval of the Minister to the carrying out of that activity, or(b) the carrying out of that activity, or(c) the use at any time of the works with which that activity is concerned, or(d) the land on which that activity is carried out or proposed to be carried out or on which those works are used or proposed to be used, so far as is relevant to that activity or those works.
[5] Section 78 Consent authority to notify Corporation of development and building applications
Omit “or a special area” from section 78 (1).
[6] Section 78 (1) (e)
Omit the paragraph.
[7] Part 6, Division 10 (sections 80–87)
Omit the Division.
[8] Schedule 9 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Omit clause 7.
[9] Schedule 9, clause 8
Omit the clause.
[10] Schedule 9, clause 14
Omit the clause.
Schedule 5 Amendment of other Acts
(Section 72)
Schedule 1 Authorities
Insert “Sydney Catchment Authority.” in alphabetical order.
Schedule 2 Statutory bodies
Insert “Sydney Catchment Authority.” in alphabetical order.
Schedule 3A Chief executive positions
Insert “Chief Executive of the Sydney Catchment Authority” in alphabetical order of public authorities in Part 3.
Section 25 Grant of operating licence
Omit section 25 (2)–(5). Insert instead:(2) Except to the extent to which this Act expressly provides, nothing in the operating licence limits the requirements imposed by or under any other Act or law with respect to the provision, construction, operation, management or maintenance of any system or service referred to in subsection (1).
[1] Schedule 2 Savings and transitional provisions
Insert at the end of clause 1 (1):
[2] Schedule 2, Part 5
Insert in appropriate order:Part 5 Provisions consequent on enactment of Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 199812 DefinitionIn this Part, amending Act means the Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998.13 Part 9 Licence for Sydney Catchment Authority(1) On the commencement of this clause, an application is taken to have been made by the Sydney Catchment Authority for the grant of a water management licence under Part 9 for all water management works owned or operated by it.(2) Part 9 applies to an application that is taken to have been made, as referred to in subclause (1), in the same way as it applies to an application referred to in section 188.
[3] Schedule 3 Water management authorities
Insert “Sydney Catchment Authority” at the end of the Schedule.
Schedule 6 Savings, transitional and other provisions
(Section 73)
Part 1 General
1 Regulations
(1) The regulations may contain provisions of a savings or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of the following Acts:(2) Any such provision may, if the regulations so provide, take effect from the date of assent to the Act concerned or a later date.(3) To the extent to which any such provision takes effect from a date that is earlier than the date of its publication in the Gazette, the provision does not operate so as:(a) to affect, in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than the State or an authority of the State), the rights of that person existing before the date of its publication, or(b) to impose liabilities on any person (other than the State or an authority of the State) in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the date of its publication.
Part 2 Provisions consequent on enactment of this Act
2 Definition
In this Act:former Act means the Sydney Water Act as in force before the commencement of amendments made to it by this Act.
3 References to Sydney Water Corporation
(1) Without limiting clause 1, the regulations may provide that a specified reference in any Act, instrument or document of any kind to the Sydney Water Corporation is to be read as a reference to the Authority, either generally or in relation to any class of acts, matters or things.(2) Without limiting clause 1, the regulations may provide that a specified reference in any Act, instrument or document of any kind to the Sydney Water Corporation includes a reference to the Authority, either generally or in relation to any class of acts, matters or things.
4 References to Sydney Water Act
(1) Without limiting clause 1, the regulations may provide that a specified reference in any Act, instrument or document of any kind to the Sydney Water Act or a provision of that Act is to be read as a reference to this Act or a specified provision of this Act, either generally or in relation to any specified class of acts, matters or things.(2) Without limiting clause 1, the regulations may provide that a specified reference in any Act, instrument or document of any kind to the Sydney Water Act or a provision of that Act includes a reference to this Act or a specified provision of this Act, either generally or in relation to any specified class of acts, matters or things.
5 Special areas and outer catchment areas
(1) An area of land within any special area (as referred to in the former Act) immediately before the commencement of section 44 of this Act is taken to be the subject of an order declaring it to be a special area under this Act.(2) An area of land within the outer catchment area (as referred to in the former Act) immediately before the commencement of section 41 (2) of this Act is taken to be the subject of an order declaring it to be part of the outer catchment area under this Act.(3) An order referred to in this clause is taken to be an order made under the section concerned, and accordingly may be amended or repealed by an order of the Governor.
6 Memoranda of understanding
A memorandum of understanding entered into by the Sydney Water Corporation under the former Act is, to the extent that it relates to a special area and subject to the regulations and any order under Schedule 3, taken to be a memorandum of understanding entered into by the Authority.
7 Plans of management
(1) A plan of management in force under the former Act at the commencement of section 49 of this Act is taken to be adopted under that section.(2) The Minister may, by order in writing, designate a draft plan of management prepared before the commencement of section 49 as being a plan of management to which this subclause applies.(3) A draft plan of management to which subclause (2) applies is taken to be adopted under section 49.
8 Environmental planning instruments: concurrence role
A reference in an environmental planning instrument as in force at the commencement of this clause to the Sydney Water Corporation (including a reference to the Water Board), in the context of the granting of its concurrence to the granting of consent to a development application in relation to lands within a special area, is to be read as a reference to the Authority.
Part 3 Provision consequent on enactment of National Parks and Wildlife Amendment (Transfer of Special Areas) Act 2001
9 Operations under plans of management
Anything done or omitted to be done before the commencement of an amendment made by Schedule 2 [1]–[3] to the National Parks and Wildlife Amendment (Transfer of Special Areas) Act 2001 is as valid as it would have been had the amendment been in force when the thing was done or omitted.
sch 6: Am 2001 No 92, Sch 2 [4] [5].