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WATER ACT 2007 - SECT 165

Inspector - General may issue an enforcement notice

  (1)   This section applies if the Inspector - General is satisfied that a person:

  (a)   has contravened, is contravening or is likely to contravene a provision of Part   2 or of the regulations made for the purposes of Part   2; or

  (b)   has engaged in, is engaging in or is likely to engage in conduct that:

  (i)   was, is or would be inconsistent with the Basin Plan or a water resource plan; or

  (ii)   prejudiced, is prejudicing, or would prejudice, the effectiveness or the implementation of the Basin Plan or a water resource plan; or

  (iii)   had, is having or would have an adverse effect on the effectiveness or the implementation of the Basin Plan or a water resource plan; or

  (c)   has omitted, is omitting or is likely to omit to perform an act, where the omission:

  (i)   was, is or would be inconsistent with the Basin Plan or a water resource plan; or

  (ii)   prejudiced, is prejudicing, or would prejudice, the effectiveness or the implementation of the Basin Plan or a water resource plan; or

  (iii)   had, is having or would have an adverse effect on the effectiveness or the implementation of the Basin Plan or a water resource plan.

  (2)   The Inspector - General may, by written notice given to the person, direct the person to take the action specified in the notice for any or all of the following purposes:

  (a)   to ensure that the person does not engage in conduct of that kind in the future;

  (b)   to ensure that the person does not omit to perform acts of that kind in the future;

  (c)   to remedy, or make good, any adverse consequences of the conduct, or the omission, on the health or continued availability of Basin water resources.

Note:   The Inspector - General's power to direct a person under this subsection is limited as provided by subsection   (6).

  (3)   Without limiting paragraph   (2)(c), the Inspector - General may direct the person under subsection   (2) not to exercise some or all of:

  (a)   the water access rights; or

  (b)   the irrigation rights; or

  (c)   the water delivery rights;

that the person holds.

  (4)   A notice under subsection   (2) must:

  (a)   set out the name of the person to whom the notice is given; and

  (b)   set out brief details of the alleged contravention, likely contravention, conduct, likely conduct, omission or likely omission; and

  (c)   contain a statement about the effect of section   166; and

  (d)   if it is given in relation to an alleged contravention--be given less than 6 years after contravention.

  (5)   The Inspector - General may give a person a notice under subsection   (2) in relation to conduct, or an omission, even if that conduct or omission constitutes an offence against, or a contravention of, a law of a State or a Territory.

Application of this section

  (6)   If the Inspector - General is satisfied that a person:

  (a)   has engaged in, is engaging in or is likely to engage in conduct referred to in paragraph   (1)(b); or

  (b)   has omitted, is omitting or is likely to omit to perform an act and the omission is covered by paragraph   (1)(c);

the Inspector - General may direct the person under subsection   (2) only if:

  (c)   the direction gives effect to a relevant international agreement; or

  (d)   the person is a constitutional corporation; or

  (e)   the direction relates to conduct or an omission that has affected, is affecting or is likely to affect the activities of a constitutional corporation; or

  (f)   the direction relates to conduct or an omission that took place, is taking place or is likely to take place in the course of trade or commerce:

  (i)   with other countries; or

  (ii)   among the States; or

  (iii)   between a State and a Territory; or

  (g)   the direction relates to conduct or an omission that took place, is taking place or is likely to take place in a Territory; or

  (h)   the direction relates to conduct that took place, is taking place or is likely to take place using a postal, telegraphic, telephonic or other like service (within the meaning of paragraph   51(v) of the Constitution); or

  (i)   the person is an agency of the Commonwealth.


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