LAW AND POLICY FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT:
FOCUS ON THE SYDNEY WATER CATCHMENTS

ALEX GARDNER

ABSTRACT: Catchment management is the first step in the multi-barrier approach to the provision of safe, good quality drinking water. This article reviews the development of legislation and statutory policy for management of the Sydney water catchments following the Sydney water crisis of 1998. It addresses the protection of water quality from diffuse sources of pollution caused by land use. The most significant reforms are the creation of a specialist catchment management authority with control over land use and the enactment of a statutory mandate for the creation of a ‘cap' on the degradation of water quality in the catchments.