VICTORIA'S NEW ENVIRONMENTAL WATER RESERVE: WHAT'S IN A NAME?

ANITA FOERSTER

ABSTRACT:

Amendments to the Victorian Water Act 1989, passed in late 2005, have introduced for the first time clear legislative recognition of water reserved for the environment in the form of the 'environmental water reserve', and various changes to the legislative framework relevant to environmental water allocation. This article outlines the context of these changes by discussing the way in which environmental water requirements were provided for prior to the amendments. It then describes the amendments, and examines how they will change the status quo for environmental water in Victoria. This analysis is conducted against both key principles of National Water Policy, and a proposed best practice model for environmental water allocation. It ultimately seeks to evaluate whether the new system for environmental water allocation will contribute to achieving a more ecologically sustainable allocation and management of water resources.