NT Introduces Water Amendment Bill 2019 To Make Changes Recommended By Fracking Inquiry
Monday 4 March 2019 @ 11.50 a.m. | Legal Research
On 13 February 2019, the Hon Eva Lawler, introduced the Water Amendment Bill 2019 (NT) (“the Bill”) to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. The Bill was immediately referred to the Economic Policy Scrutiny Committee for report by 7 May 2019, with submissions to the Committee due by 11 March 2019.
About The Bill
The purpose of the Bill is to give effect to relevant recommendations of the Final Report of the Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory. Specifically, relevant recommendations that are addressed in this Bill include:
- Recommendation 7.6 – Prohibition on surface water take for petroleum activities;
- Recommendation 7.8(a) – Prohibition on water extraction for hydraulic fracturing within 1km of landowners bore without agreement or hydrogeological information;
- Recommendation 7.9 – Prohibition on re-injection of hydraulic fracturing wastewater into aquifers; and
- Recommendation 7.17 – Prohibition on release of hydraulic fracturing wastewater to surface waters.
Brief Overview of the Amendments
The Bill proposes to amend the Water Act 1992 (NT) (the “Act”) by inserting into Part 2 a new Division 3, including sections 17A, 17B, 17C, and making other consequential amendments to the Act to ensure that disposal of hydraulic fracturing waste to surface water and groundwater is prohibited under the Act.
The Bill also introduces new offence and penalty provisions for the prohibitions that align with existing penalties within the Act and comply with Part IIAA of the Criminal Code (NT).
The Final Report was handed to the NT Government in April 2018.
Terms of Reference of the Inquiry
The Terms of Reference required the Panel to assess and determine:
- the nature and extent of the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing of on-shore unconventional shale gas reservoirs and its associated activities on the environmental (aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric), social, cultural and economic conditions of the NT;
- whether these risks can be mitigated to an acceptable level;
- if they can, by what methodology or methodologies can these risks be mitigated; and
- whether the existing regulatory framework is sufficient to implement these methodologies, and if not, what changes need to be made.
Reaction and Comment on the Bill
In the Minister’s Second Reading Speech, she commented:
An article in Utility Magazine notes:
The article also quotes the Minister as saying:
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Sources:
Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing in the Northern Territory – Final Report (April 2018)
Water Amendment Bill 2019 (NT) - Bill and supporting information available from TimeBase LawOne Service