Allens

25 October 2018

On Thursday, 18 October, the Queensland Parliament passed the Mineral, Water and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018, which will make important changes to the various Acts governing resource activities in that state. Partner Ben Zillmann and Senior Associate Giselle Kilvert consider the changes to mineral resources legislation.

24 February 2017

The Australian Government's Critical Infrastructure Centre, launched earlier this year, is part of the government's plans to manage national security concerns arising from foreign investment in Australian critical infrastructure. The Centre has released a discussion paper calling for input into how it can best work with governments, industry and investors to manage these risks. This paper provides greater insight into the Centre's role but there remain areas to be clarified. Partners Wendy Rae and Jeremy Low, Mergers & Acquisitions Counsel Andrew Wong and Associate Nicholas Kefalianos examine this issue from the perspective of Australia's foreign investment framework.

23 February 2017

A healthy pipeline of Australian infrastructure projects has created a certain level of competition for project funds. Partner Kate Axup, Associate Danielle Jones and Lawyer Luisa Colosimo recently contributed to a discussion paper on alternative funding models for financing Australia's water infrastructure in the face of a growing population, greater urbanisation and climate change.

6 December 2016

Major water reforms that will affect all water users, particularly the resources industry, have commenced in Queensland. All water users should be aware of the changes and new obligations, especially as there may be potentially significant time and cost benefits and risks. Partner Bill McCredie and Senior Associate Gobind Kalsi report.

19 September 2016

Resource sector operators need to be aware of further proposed changes to how the take of groundwater is regulated in Queensland. The proposed changes will impact existing, new and expansion operations. Partner Bill McCredie and Senior Associate Gobind Kalsi consider the proposed amendments and their significance for resource projects.

1 December 2015

Water Services Association of Australia and Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, the peak bodies for water utilities and infrastructure respectively, have released a joint report that calls for major reform in the provision of urban water services across Australia. The report suggests that there is a need for greater private sector involvement in the urban water sector but that current regulatory settings need to change in order to facilitate this. Partner Kate Axup, Associate Danielle Jones and Vacation Clerk Katy Milne report.

26 November 2014

New legislation makes important changes to the regulatory scheme applying to private water and sewage infrastructure in NSW. In particular, the reforms change the way in which water infrastructure is approved and licenced by the NSW Government. Partner Andrew Mansour and Lawyer Jerome Entwisle discuss the amendments and impacts on the water industry in NSW.

22 October 2014

The Commonwealth Government this week released its Agricultural Competitiveness Green Paper outlining policy ideas for improving water management to meet the future water demands of the agriculture sector. The Green Paper sets out principles for Commonwealth involvement in water infrastructure projects and identifies 27 projects that could warrant possible Commonwealth investment. Partner Kate Axup, Senior Associate Michael Zissis and Lawyer Danielle Atkin report.

25 September 2014

The Queensland Government has introduced amending legislation that will significantly reform all parts of water regulation in Queensland. The reform introduces significant streamlining opportunities but also new obligations, particularly for those in the resources industry. Partner Bill McCredie, Special Counsel Philip Murray and Senior Associate Gobind Kalsi report.

22 September 2014

New legislation that seeks to establish a statutory framework for the access to and use of stormwater in Victoria is an attempt to increase the use of stormwater in urban areas and furthers the Victorian Government's policy of limiting the diversion of water from rural areas for urban use. The process to access this alternative water source appears, at first glance, to be straightforward. However, uncertainty still exists. Partner Kate Axup and Lawyer Danielle Atkin report.

2 October 2013

Significant reforms to Western Australia's water resource management will have implications for existing and future water users across all industries. These reforms have been foreshadowed in the WA Department of Water's position paper on water resource reform, released last week. Partner Jodi Reinmuth and Senior Associate Eve Lynch report on the State's proposed new legislative and policy framework for managing and allocating water.

1 December 2011

The Draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan, released this week, marks a major shift in the management of water resources towards providing more water for the environment, but significantly less than was proposed last year. Partner Chris Schulz and Lawyer Fergus Green report

27 September 2011

Licenced water users in Western Australia should be aware that the WA Department of Water is reviewing its current water allocation policy. Partner Jodi Reinmuth and Special Counsel Robyn Glindemann look at the Department's recently released discussion paper on the issue

6 July 2011

Victoria has a new statutory body to hold and manage environmental water in that state. Partner Anna Collyer and Lawyer Fergus Green report on these changes and explain their significance in the context of ongoing Commonwealth-state water reform in the Murray-Darling Basin

12 May 2011

The Productivity Commission has recently released its Draft Report on Australia's urban water sector - the sector responsible for the provision of water, wastewater and stormwater services in metropolitan and regional urban areas. Partner Anna Collyer and Senior Associate Kate Axup report

21 December 2010

New Queensland legislation will trade off greater protection of groundwater resources against greater regulation and compliance costs for petroleum tenure holders. Partner Bill McCredie and Lawyer Michael Zissis look at the legislation, which is partly aimed at resolving some of the issues associated with the increasingly rapid growth of the liquefied natural gas industry

13 October 2010

A landmark guide to the proposed Murray-Darling Basin Plan marks a major shift in the management of water resources towards providing more water for the environment and less for consumers. Partner Chris Schulz, Senior Associate Kate Axup and Lawyer Fergus Green examine the Guide's key implications for the use and management of water in the Basin

22 April 2010

Since our recent Focus on the Queensland Government's coal seam gas water management policy, proposed legislation has been released that will place significant new obligations and restrictions on existing coal seam gas environmental authority holders and applicants that were not announced in the initial policy - including a prohibition on evaporation ponds and new environmental management plans. Partner Bill McCredie and Senior Associate Suzanne Westgate report

13 April 2010

Following the release of its Management of Water Produced from Coal Seam Gas Production Discussion Paper in May 2009, the Queensland Government has issued its overarching guidelines on the management of coal seam gas activities and the beneficial use of coal seam gas water. As a follow up to our audio update Partner Bill McCredie, Special Counsel Philip Murray and Senior Associate Suzanne Westgate report on the Beneficial Use Guideline

24 November 2009

The Western Australian Government recently published a Discussion Paper on the proposed Water Resources Management Bill, a key element of the state's much-anticipated water reform agenda. Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann and Lawyer Jessica D'Souza report on the Discussion Paper's implications for industry

19 June 2009

The Victorian Parliamentary Environment and Natural Resources Committee has recently released its report on options for supplementing Melbourne's water supply, Inquiry into Melbourne's Future Water Supply (June 2009). Senior Associate Kate Axup reports on the key recommendations of the committee

14 May 2009

Following the release of its coal seam gas water policy in October 2008, the Queensland Government has now released the Management of Water Produced from Coal Seam Gas Production Discussion Paper, which proposes to 'tighten' Queensland's current coal seam gas water regulatory regime to achieve greater beneficial use. Partner Bill McCredie, Special Counsel Philip Murray and Senior Associate Suzanne Westgate report.

1 May 2009

In our September Focus, we reported that the Economic Regulation Authority of Western Australia had commenced its inquiry into the pricing of recycled water. Partner Andrew Mansour, Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann, Lawyer Jessica D'Souza and Law Graduate Joseph Freeman summarise the final report, and give an overview of recent key developments in water regulation in Western Australia and the Murray-Darling Basin

16 September 2008

In July 2008, the Economic Regulation Authority of Western Australia has released its final reports from two recent inquiries into water regulation in the state. Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann and Law Graduate Robert French examine the major findings and recommendations of the Inquiry into Developer Contributions to the Water Corporation and the Inquiry on Competition in the Water and Wastewater Services Sector

15 August 2008

The private sector can now enter the Sydney and Newcastle water markets, following the proclamation of the Water Industry Competition (General) Regulation 2008 and the formal commencement of the Water Industry Competition Act 2006 (NSW) on 8 August 2008. The Regulation sets up the licensing and supervision tools that give effect to the Act, which is the first legislation of its type in Australia to facilitate private sector involvement in the supply of metropolitan water and associated infrastructure development. Partner Andrew Mansour, Lawyer Elizabeth Lamaro and Law Graduate Victoria Ho report

30 June 2008

A new urban water market for South East Queensland will have significant implications for suppliers and users of water

4 June 2008

A new regulatory framework for recycled water and the safety and reliability of the water supply in South East Queensland has been set by the recently enacted Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008. Senior Associate Suzy Cairney and Lawyer Scott Watson explain

13 May 2008

The Economic Regulation Authority of Western Australia is conducting a range of inquiries into water regulation and licensing in Western Australia. Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann and Research Assistant Caroline Spencer take a look at the more significant reports

8 March 2007

Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann and Lawyer Caitlin Westgarth report on the next stage of Western Australia's water reform program

28 July 2006

We look at the latest changes to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) and the state's ambitious water reform

19 July 2006

Like many Australian states, Queensland is in the grip of a drought. Partner Alan Millhouse and Special Counsel Philip Murray examine the role of the newly established Queensland Water Commission in addressing the state's water shortage crisis

13 June 2006

Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann and Research Assistant Vivian Chung examine the next wave of water legislation in Western Australia

12 October 2005

The Water (Resource Management) Bill was introduced into the Victorian Parliament on 5 October this year. Partner Grant Anderson, Senior Associate Lauren Thompson and Lawyer Emily Gerrard look at the key reforms contained in the Bill

21 September 2005

The NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal is investigating alternative arrangements for delivering water and wastewater services to the greater Sydney region. Lawyer Sarah Birrell and Partner Andrew Mansour outline the Tribunal's key recommendations

9 August 2005

In July, the first price determination issued by the Victorian Essential Services Commission for the water industry came into effect. Senior Associate Julie Freeman and Partner Anna Collyer look at the determination

23 December 2004

The National Water Commission Act 2004 (Cth) came into force on 17 December 2004. The purpose of the Act is to establish the National Water Commission, an independent statutory body that is to play an important role in driving Australia's water reform agenda. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Alistair Newton outline the National Water Commission's primary responsibilities

21 September 2004

Water reform has emerged as a significant issue in the 2004 federal election campaign. Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Alistair Newton consider two key election policies relating to water: the Howard Government's Securing Australia's Water Future and the Australian Labor Party's Saving the Murray River

30 June 2004

On 25 June 2004, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to implement a National Water Initiative that is intended to result in greater compatibility between the state water regulatory regimes and in the adoption of best-practice approaches to water management nationally. Partner Grant Anderson and Senior Associate Robyn Glindemann outline the details of this important initiative

24 June 2004

Partner Grant Anderson and Lawyer Alistair Newton outline the key elements of the Victorian Government's recently released White Paper on water policy, Securing Our Water Future Together

18 May 2004

AAR's Jim Parker and Dominique Dalla-Pozza provide an overview of a recently released United Nations Conference on Trade and Development manual that contains guidelines for corporate environmental accounting

9 September 2003

The manner in which we use and protect Australia's scarce water resources has been foremost in the minds of politicians in recent days. Partners Chris Schulz and Jim Parker and Lawyer Ashley Bleeker report on two landmark initiatives