Water Act 1989

Statement of Obligations - Water Act 1989 (92 KB)

The Water Act 1989 can be accessed online in its entirety from the Victorian Legislation Website.

Following is an extract from the Act:

(1) An Authority that has a waterway management district has the following functions in relation to designated waterways and designated land or works within that district -

(a) to identify and plan for State and local community needs relating to the use and to the economic, social and environmental values of land and waterways;

(b) to develop and to implement effectively schemes for the use, protection and enhancement of land and waterways;

(ba) to - (i) develop and implement plans and programs, and -

(ii) carry out works and activities - to maintain the environmental water reserve in accordance with the environmental water reserve objective;

(bb) to -(i) develop and implement plans and programs; and

(ii) carry out works and activities - to improve the environmental values and health of water ecosystems, including their biodiversity, ecological functions, quality of water and other uses that depend on environmental condition;

(c) to investigate, promote and research any matter related to its functions, powers and duties in relation to waterway management;

(d) to educate the public about any aspect of waterway management.

(2) In performing its functions under this Act, an Authority that has a waterway management district must have regard to the need to maintain the environmental water reserve in accordance with the environmental water reserve objective.

S202 - Floodplain Management Functions

An Authority has the following functions or such of those functions as are specified in the Order under Section 201

(1) (b) (ii), as the case requires

(a) to find out how far floodwaters are likely to extend and how high they are likely to rise;

(b) to declare flood levels and flood fringe areas;

(d) to control developments that have occurred or that may be proposed for land adjoining waterways;

(e) to develop and implement plans and to take any action necessary to minimise flooding and flood damage;

(f) to provide advice about flooding and controls on development to local councils, the Secretary to the Department of Infrastructure and the community.