Resource companies wanting to take groundwater for mining activities will be subject to tougher assessment of environmental impacts under proposed new laws.
Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles, who tabled the Environmental Protection (Underground Water Management) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 in Parliament yesterday, said the new laws will give the environment department greater power to scrutinise mining companies.
“Under the new laws, the environment department will
“That will mean a rigorous scientific assessment of the impact of mining projects on groundwater would be required before an environmental approval is issued for new mining projects.
“These laws address widespread concern about the LNP’s so-called ‘unlimited right to take’.
“Mining can have significant impacts on groundwater, which is why we will require scrutiny of groundwater extraction, through the EA process, which is open for public comment.
“Community objections will be allowed as part of the environmental approval stage, instead of the current objection process used in water licences.”
The new laws will apply to new EA applications received by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection for resource activities that include groundwater extraction under the new right to take.
Existing holders of a water licence, administered by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, would continue to operate under that water licence.
Companies which have applied for, or been granted an EA, but have not yet secured a water licence, would still need to seek a water licence from DNRM that involves an environmental assessment of groundwater impacts, subject to public scrutiny and third party appeals.
Dr Miles said the new laws would also strengthen protection for farmers and other rural landholders by improving the existing make good obligations under the Water Act 2000.
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