Water Management
Northern Territory’s water resources are managed through a regulatory framework prescribed by the Water Act and Water Regulations. The key principle on which this legislation is based is that management of water is guided by its value which is in turn determined by its use or its purpose. The Beneficial Uses and water bodies to which they apply are formally declared by the Administrator in the Gazette (s73). The primary decision maker under the Water Act responsible for all other aspects of water management is the Water Controller.
The function of a Water Controller is described in Part 3 of the Water Act. A representative from Natrural Resources Division DNRETAS has been appointed by the Minister to perform the functions of the Water Controller. It is worth noting that Part 7 of the Act which deals with matters of water quality is currently administered by the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Division of DNRETAS and includes the responsibility for management and monitoring of water quality and for maintaining and updating water quality objectives for all relevant uses except those involving public health and drinking water supply.
Department of Health and Families has responsibility for the management of water quality if it becomes an issue of public health. The Chief Health Officer established under the Public Health Act is a primary decision maker empowered under that Act to control water quality including stormwater or a public water supply as specified in sections 18 and 19 of Public Health (general sanitation, mosquito prevention, rat exclusion and prevention) Regulations. Consequently Chief Health Officer of the Department of Health and Families has the responsibility for maintaining and updating Water Quality Objectives for cultural or recreational uses of various bodies of water.
Water Quality Objectives for drinking water supply are based on national standards and would generally be determined by the Chief Health Officer and implemented by the Power and Water Corporation.
Other advisory and decision-making bodies relevant to the management of water quality include:
- Advisory committees such as the Darwin Harbour Advisory Committee (DHAC) and the Rapid Creek Advisory Committee (RCAC) which have some influence over water quality in Darwin Harbour through the recommendations they provide to the Minister Environment and Heritage on issues relating to the management of land and water in Darwin Harbour catchment.
- City and Shire Councils make decisions and undertake functions listed in Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act which includes provisions for the management and disposal of stormwater but does not specify any responsibility for its quality. Department of Planning and Infrastructure has similar responsibility under the Control of Roads Act for the management of stormwater in road corridors owned by NT or Australian Government
- Darwin Port Corporation operates under the provision of the Darwin Port Corporations Act which amongst other functions vests the control and regulation of the use of all waters of the Harbour’s port and other marine activities to the Corporation. In this capacity Darwin Port Corporation is another important decision maker with a relative influence on water quality in the Darwin Harbour.