Water (Resource Management) Regulations 2017
Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel
Authorised Version
i
Water (Resource Management) Regulations 2017
S.R. No. 123/2017
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Regulation Page
Part 1—Preliminary 1
1 Objective 1
2 Authorising provision 2
3 Commencement 2
4 Revocation 2
5 Definitions 3
Part 2—Fees for applications in relation to water shares and water
allocation 8
6 Fee for application for issue of a water share 8
7 Fee for application for issue of a water share by holder of
interstate right 8
8 Fee for application for variation of a water share 8
9 Fee for application to revoke a standing direction 8
10 Fee for application for transfer of ownership of water share
under Division 5 of Part 3A of the Act 8
11 Fee for application to give a limited term transfer under
Division 5 of Part 3A of the Act 8
12 Fee for application to give a standing direction 8
13 Fee for application to give a water allocation assignment under
Division 5 of Part 3A of the Act 9
14 Fee for application to divide a water share 9
15 Fee for application to consolidate water shares 9
16 Fee for application to surrender a water share to the Crown 9
17 Fee for application to cancel a water share where interstate
rights are obtained 9
18 Fee for application for Ministerial approval to take interstate
water 9
19 Fee for application for Ministerial approval to take water
outside the associated water system 9
20 Fee for application to associate or revoke the association of a
water share with land 10
21 Fee for an application to use water on land 10
22 Group applications 10
23 Exception to regulations in this Part 11
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Regulation Page
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Part 3—Water register fees 12
Division 1—Water share dealings 12
24 Fees for recording water share or related dealings 12
25 Fees for recording mortgage related dealings 13
26 Fee for recording that matter referred to arbitration 14
27 Fee for providing a certificate as to matter in the part of the
water register or in records of information maintained by the
Registrar 14
28 Waiver of Division 1 fees 14
Division 2—Searching or amending the water register 15
29 Search of the water register for information or records 15
30 Fees to search the water register 16
31 Fee to correct or amend the water register 16
32 Waiver of Division 2 fees 17
Part 4—Prescribed purpose for applications for licences under
section 51(1) for taking and using water in declared water systems 18
33 Prescribed purpose for applications for licences for taking and
using water in declared water systems 18
Part 5—Prescribed persons to be occupiers for the purposes of
water-use registration 20
34 Prescribed persons 20
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Endnotes 21
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Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel
Authorised Version
1
STATUTORY RULES 2017
S.R. No. 123/2017
Water Act 1989
Water (Resource Management) Regulations 2017
The Governor in Council makes the following Regulations:
Dated: 28 November 2017
Responsible Minister:
LISA NEVILLE
Minister for Water
ANDREW ROBINSON
Clerk of the Executive Council
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Objective
The objective of these Regulations is to
prescribe—
(a) fees for applications to the Minister relating
to water shares, water allocations and related
dealings under the Water Act 1989; and
(b) fees for lodging documents with the
Registrar of the water register or making
recordings in the water register; and
(c) fees for applications to amend or search the
water register; and
(d) persons who may search the water register
for prescribed classes of information or
records recorded in the water register; and
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(e) the classes of information or records
recorded in the water register that may
be searched by a prescribed person; and
(f) the purpose for which a licence under
section 51 of the Water Act 1989 may be
issued within a declared water system; and
(g) certain persons and classes of person to
be occupiers for the purpose of water-use
registration.
2 Authorising provision
These Regulations are made under section 324 of
the Water Act 1989.
3 Commencement
These Regulations come into operation on
29 November 2017.
4 Revocation
The following Regulations are revoked—
(a) Water (Resource Management) Regulations
20071 ;
(b) Water (Resource Management) Amendment
Regulations 2009 2 ;
(c) Water (Resource Management) Amendment
Regulations 2010 3 ;
(d) Water (Resource Management) Amendment
Regulations 2012 4 ;
(e) Water (Resource Management) Amendment
Regulations 2013 5 ;
(f) Water (Resource Management) Amendment
Regulations 2014 6 .
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5 Definitions
In these Regulations—
automated lodgement process means the process
for enabling the making of an application
through the Victorian Water Register
website;
Note
The Victorian Water Register website is at
http://waterregister.vic.gov.au.
the Act means the Water Act 1989;
water allocation group application means
any one of the following combinations of
applications in relation to the same water
share, water allocation or use of water—
(a) an application made under
section 33X(1)(ba) of the Act
together with an application made
under section 33TB of the Act;
(b) an application made under
section 33X(1)(c) of the Act
together with any one or more
of the following—
(i) an application made under
section 33TB of the Act;
(ii) an application made under
section 33X(1)(ba) of the
Act;
(iii) an application made under
section 33AG(1) of the Act;
(iv) an application made under
section 33AI(1) of the Act;
(v) an application made under
section 64K(2) of the Act;
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(c) an application made under
section 64K(2) of the Act
together with any one or
more of the following—
(i) an application made under
section 33TB of the Act;
(ii) an application made under
section 33X(1)(ba) of the
Act;
(iii) an application made under
section 33AG(1) of the Act;
(iv) an application made under
section 33AI(1) of the Act;
water limited term transfer group application
means an application made under
section 33X(1)(b) of the Act when made
together with either one or both of the
following applications, in relation to the
same water allocation—
(a) an application made under
section 33TB of the Act;
(b) an application made under
section 33X(1)(ba) of the Act;
water share change group application means
either one of the following combinations of
applications in relation to the same water
share or water allocation—
(a) an application made under section
33AQ of the Act together with any
one or more of the following—
(i) an application made under
section 33R of the Act;
(ii) an application made under
section 33TB of the Act;
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(iii) an application made under
section 33X(1)(ba) of the Act;
(iv) an application made under
section 33Y(1) of the Act;
(v) an application made under
section 33Z(1) of the Act;
(vi) an application made under
section 33AI(1) of the Act;
(b) an application made under section 33R
of the Act together with either one or
both of the following—
(i) an application made under
section 33TB of the Act;
(ii) an application made under
section 33X(1)(ba) of the Act;
water share consolidation group application
means an application in respect of 2 or more
water shares made under section 33Z(1)
of the Act when made together with an
application made under section 33X(1)(ba)
of the Act in relation to those same water
shares;
water share divide group application means
an application in respect of a water share
made under section 33Y(1) of the Act
when made together with an application
made under section 33X(1)(ba) of the
Act in relation to the same water share;
water share issue group application means
either one of the following combinations
of applications in relation to the same
water share—
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(a) an application made under
section 33L(1) of the Act when
made together with an application
made under section 33X(1)(ba) of
the Act;
(b) an application made under
section 33M of the Act when
made together with an application
made under section 33X(1)(ba) of
the Act;
water share transfer group application means
an application made under section 33X(1)(a)
of the Act when made together with any
one or more of the following applications,
in relation to the same water share—
(a) an application made under
section 33R of the Act;
(b) an application made under
section 33TB of the Act;
(c) an application made under
section 33X(1)(ba) of the Act;
(d) an application made under
section 33Y(1) of the Act;
(e) an application made under
section 33AI(1) of the Act;
(f) an application made under
section 33AQ of the Act;
water take group application means an
application made under section 33AI(1)
of the Act when made together with
either one or both of the following
applications, in relation to the same
water allocation—
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(a) an application made under
section 33TB of the Act;
(b) an application made under
section 33X(1)(ba) of the Act.
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Part 2—Fees for applications in relation to water shares and water allocation
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Part 2—Fees for applications in relation to
water shares and water allocation
6 Fee for application for issue of a water share
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33L(1) of the Act is 13·57 fee units.
7 Fee for application for issue of a water share by
holder of interstate right
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33M of the Act is 13·57 fee units.
8 Fee for application for variation of a water share
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33R of the Act is 11·43 fee units.
9 Fee for application to revoke a standing direction
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33TB is 6·04 fee units.
10 Fee for application for transfer of ownership of
water share under Division 5 of Part 3A of the Act
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33X(1)(a) of the Act is 13·57 fee units.
11 Fee for application to give a limited term transfer
under Division 5 of Part 3A of the Act
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33X(1)(b) of the Act is 13·57 fee units.
12 Fee for application to give a standing direction
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33X(1)(ba) is 6·04 fee units.
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13 Fee for application to give a water allocation
assignment under Division 5 of Part 3A of the Act
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33X(1)(c) of the Act is—
(a) if the application is made through the
automated lodgement process, 3·20 fee
units; or
(b) if the application is made other than by
way of the automated lodgement process,
6·04 fee units.
14 Fee for application to divide a water share
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33Y(1) of the Act is 11·43 fee units.
15 Fee for application to consolidate water shares
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33Z(1) of the Act is 11·43 fee units.
16 Fee for application to surrender a water share to the
Crown
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33AA(1) of the Act is 11·43 fee units.
17 Fee for application to cancel a water share where
interstate rights are obtained
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33AB(1) of the Act is 13·57 fee units.
18 Fee for application for Ministerial approval to take
interstate water
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33AG(1) of the Act is 13·57 fee units.
19 Fee for application for Ministerial approval to take
water outside the associated water system
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33AI(1) of the Act is 11·43 fee units.
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Part 2—Fees for applications in relation to water shares and water allocation
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20 Fee for application to associate or revoke the
association of a water share with land
The prescribed fee for an application made under
section 33AQ(1) of the Act is 11·43 fee units.
21 Fee for an application to use water on land
For the purposes of section 64K(3)(d) of the
Act, the prescribed fee for an application to the
Minister for approval to use water on land is—
(a) if the application is made through the
automated lodgement process, 3·20 fee
units; or
(b) if the application is made other than by
way of the automated lodgement process,
6·04 fee units.
22 Group applications
Despite regulations 6 to 21—
(a) in the case of a person who makes a
water share change group application,
the prescribed fee is 11·43 fee units;
(b) in the case of a person who makes a water
share consolidation group application, the
prescribed fee is 11·43 fee units;
(c) in the case of a person who makes a
water share divide group application,
the prescribed fee is 11·43 fee units;
(d) in the case of a person who makes a
water share issue group application,
the prescribed fee is 13·57 fee units;
(e) in the case of a person who makes a
water share transfer group application,
the prescribed fee is 13·57 fee units;
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Part 2—Fees for applications in relation to water shares and water allocation
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(f) in the case of a person who makes a water
limited term transfer group application, the
prescribed fee is 13·57 fee units;
(g) in the case of a person who makes a water
take group application, the prescribed fee is
11·43 fee units;
(h) in the case of a person who makes a water
allocation group application, the prescribed
fee is—
(i) if the application is made through
the automated lodgement process,
3·20 fee units; or
(ii) if the application is made other than
by way of the automated lodgement
process, 6·04 fee units.
23 Exception to regulations in this Part
Despite regulations 13 and 22, no application fee
is payable if—
(a) a person makes an application under
section 33X(1)(c) of the Act for approval
to make an assignment under section 33U(1)
or 33V(1) of the Act; and
(b) the Authority responsible for the water
system from which the water was allocated
considers it appropriate that the person be
excepted from the payment of that fee.
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Part 3—Water register fees
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Part 3—Water register fees
Division 1—Water share dealings
24 Fees for recording water share or related dealings
The following fees are prescribed for making a
recording in the water register—
(a) for recording a transfer of ownership of a
water share under section 84J(1)(a) of the
Act, the fee is 8·71 fee units;
(b) for recording a limited term transfer of a
water share under section 84J(1)(b) of the
Act, the fee is 8·71 fee units;
(c) for recording the surrender of a limited
term transfer of a water share under
section 84JA(1) of the Act, the fee is
4·36 fee units;
(d) for recording the transmission of a water
share to the legal personal representative
of the deceased owner of the water share
under section 84K(1)(a) of the Act, the
fee is 8·71 fee units;
(e) for recording the transmission of a holding
of a limited term transfer of a water share
to the legal personal representative of the
deceased holder of the limited term transfer
under section 84K(1)(b) of the Act, the fee
is 8·71 fee units;
(f) for recording the transmission of an
interest as a mortgagee of a water share
to the legal personal representative of
the deceased owner of the interest under
section 84K(1)(c) of the Act, the fee is
8·71 fee units;
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(g) for recording a transmission under
section 84L(1)(a) of the Act to the
survivor of joint owners of a water
share, the fee is 8·71 fee units;
(h) for recording a transmission under
section 84L(1)(b) of the Act to the
survivor of joint holders of a limited
term transfer of a water share, the fee
is 8·71 fee units;
(i) for recording a transmission under
section 84L(1)(c) of the Act to the
survivor of joint holders of a mortgagee
interest in a water share, the fee is
8·71 fee units;
(j) for recording the transmission of a water
share under section 84M of the Act to the
trustee in bankruptcy of the owner of the
water share, the fee is 8·71 fee units;
(k) for recording a memorandum of common
provisions under section 84P(1) of the Act,
the fee is 8·71 fee units.
25 Fees for recording mortgage related dealings
(1) The prescribed fee for recording in the
water register a mortgage of a water share
under clause 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act
is 4·36 fee units.
(2) The prescribed fee for recording in the water
register a variation of the terms of a recorded
mortgage of a water share under clause 2(3)
of Schedule 12A to the Act is 4·36 fee units.
(3) The prescribed fee for recording in the water
register a variation of the principal sum or
interest secured by a recorded mortgage of a
water share under clause 2(3) of Schedule 12A
to the Act is 4·36 fee units.
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(4) The prescribed fee for recording in the water
register the variation of priority of the recorded
mortgages of a water share under clause 3 of
Schedule 12A to the Act is 4·36 fee units.
(5) The prescribed fee for recording in the water
register the transfer of a mortgage of a water
share under clause 4 of Schedule 12A to the
Act is 4·36 fee units.
(6) The prescribed fee for recording in the water
register a discharge of a mortgage of a water
share under clause 10 of Schedule 12A to the
Act is 4·36 fee units.
26 Fee for recording that matter referred to arbitration
(1) For the purposes of section 84I(i) of the Act, the
referral of a matter to arbitration under clause 19
of Schedule 15 to the Act is a prescribed matter to
be recorded in the water register.
(2) The fee for recording in the water register the
referral of a matter to arbitration under clause 19
of Schedule 15 to the Act is 4·36 fee units.
27 Fee for providing a certificate as to matter
in the part of the water register or in records
of information maintained by the Registrar
The fee for the issuing of a certificate by a
recording body under section 84ZK(1) of the
Act for the purposes of proceedings in any
court or tribunal is 4·36 fee units.
28 Waiver of Division 1 fees
(1) The Registrar may waive a fee specified in
regulation 24 or 25 if—
(a) the fee is incurred by a person seeking to
make an application under the Act to make
a recording in the water register; and
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(b) that recording is made as a result of
reaching an agreement in respect of
ownership of a water share under
clause 17(2) of Schedule 15 to the Act.
(2) Despite regulation 25(6), the Registrar may
waive the prescribed fee for recording in the
water register a discharge of a mortgage of a
water share, if—
(a) the discharge was in respect of a mortgage
that was deemed to be a mortgage over a
water share under clause 26 of Schedule 15
to the Act; and
(b) the recording in the water register of the
discharge of the mortgage is lodged within
6 months after the appointed day within the
meaning of the Act.
(3) The Registrar may waive a fee specified in this
Division which is payable to the Registrar by a
person if the Registrar is satisfied that there are
circumstances justifying the waiver, including
any hardship affecting the person liable to pay
the fee.
Division 2—Searching or amending
the water register
29 Search of the water register for information or
records
For the purposes of section 84X(3) of the Act—
(a) a prescribed purpose is the undertaking
of a valuation under section 13DC of the
Valuation of Land Act 1960; and
(b) a prescribed person is a person appointed
in accordance with section 13DA(1) of the
Valuation of Land Act 1960; and
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(c) the prescribed class of information or records
is any information or records held by the
recording body that the person referred to in
paragraph (b) believes is reasonably required
for the purposes of undertaking a valuation
under section 13DC of the Valuation of
Land Act 1960.
30 Fees to search the water register
For the purposes of section 84ZA(2)(a) of the Act,
the prescribed fee is—
(a) in the case of a search initiated by accessing
an online search facility established by the
Registrar for the purposes of searching the
water register, 1 fee unit; or
(b) in the case of a search made by the Registrar
or the Minister on behalf of the applicant and
where a hard copy of the results of that
search are provided to the applicant—
(i) if the search is for current information
or records, 1·91 fee units; or
(ii) if the search is for non-current
information or records, 1·91 fee
units; or
(iii) if the search is for documents,
1 fee unit.
31 Fee to correct or amend the water register
(1) For the purposes of section 84ZB(4)(b)(i) of the
Act—
(a) no prescribed fee is payable to correct or
amend an address recorded on the water
register; and
(b) in all other cases, the prescribed fee to
correct or amend the water register is
8·71 fee units.
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(2) The Registrar may waive the fee referred to in
subregulation (1)(b) if the application for the
amendment or correction to the water register is
made—
(a) to correct an error made by the Registrar; or
(b) as a result of reaching an agreement in
respect of ownership of a water share under
clause 17(2) of Schedule 15 to the Act.
32 Waiver of Division 2 fees
The Registrar may waive a fee specified in this
Division which is payable to the Registrar by a
person if the Registrar is satisfied that there are
circumstances justifying the waiver, including
any hardship affecting the person liable to pay
the fee.
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Part 4—Prescribed purpose for applications for licences under section 51(1)
for taking and using water in declared water systems
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Part 4—Prescribed purpose for applications
for licences under section 51(1) for taking
and using water in declared water systems
33 Prescribed purpose for applications for licences for
taking and using water in declared water systems
(1) For the purposes of section 51(lAA)(b) of the Act,
a prescribed purpose is watering of cattle or other
stock if—
(a) the applicant occupies land abutting Crown
land; and
(b) the Crown land abuts a waterway; and
(c) the applicant—
(i) holds a relevant licence over the
Crown land and the Crown land was
fenced off on or after 30 September
2004 to exclude cattle or other stock
access to the waterway; or
(ii) previously held a relevant licence
over the Crown land and that licence
was cancelled, surrendered or not
renewed in order to implement a
recommendation of the Victorian
Environmental Assessment Council,
or was surrendered as part of an
arrangement for the Crown land to
be managed by a committee of
management.
(2) In this regulation—
relevant licence means—
(a) a licence granted under section 130
of the Land Act 1958 in respect of
a water frontage that permits grazing
or riparian management; or
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for taking and using water in declared water systems
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(b) a licence granted under section 138
of the Land Act 1958 in respect
of a water frontage that permits
conservation management or riparian
management;
water frontage has the same meaning as in
section 3(1) of the Land Act 1958.
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Part 5—Prescribed persons to be occupiers for the purposes of water-use
registration
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Part 5—Prescribed persons to be occupiers
for the purposes of water-use registration
34 Prescribed persons
For the purposes of the definition of occupier in
section 64APAA of the Act, the following persons
and classes of person are prescribed as occupiers
in relation to that land—
(a) the Water Holder;
(b) an incorporated body responsible for
supplying or delivering water to land
owned or occupied by persons who are
represented by the incorporated body;
Note
An incorporated body includes the incorporated committee
of a community water supply scheme established under
section 244 of the Act.
(c) a person responsible for undertaking road
construction or maintenance activities on
land that requires the use of water;
(d) a person responsible for undertaking an
activity that requires the use of water on
land for dust suppression.
Note
Section 3(1) of the Act defines person as an individual or an
incorporated body for the purposes of water-use registration.
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Endnotes
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Endnotes
1 Reg. 4(a): S.R. No. 75/2007 as amended by S.R. Nos 123/2009,
139/2010, 88/2012, 163/2013 and 69/2014 and extended in operation
by S.R. No. 56/2017.
2 Reg. 4(b): S.R. No. 123/2009.
3 Reg. 4(c): S.R. No. 139/2010.
4 Reg. 4(d): S.R. No. 88/2012.
5 Reg. 4(e): S.R. No. 163/2013.
6 Reg. 4(f): S.R. No. 69/2014.
——
Fee Units
These Regulations provide for fees by reference to fee units within the
meaning of the Monetary Units Act 2004.
The amount of the fee is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of that
Act, by multiplying the number of fee units applicable by the value of a fee
unit.
The value of a fee unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2017 is
$14.22. The amount of the calculated fee may be rounded to the nearest
10 cents.
The value of a fee unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the
Treasurer under section 5 of the Monetary Units Act 2004. The value of a
fee unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and
a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year.
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