Water Amendment Regulation 2025

The endorsed summary impact assessment for the Water Amendment Regulation 2025 was issued 1 July 2025. It is published by the Department of Local government, Water and Volunteers (DLGWV). It was endorsed by:

• Josh Hannan, Acting Director-General, DLGWV.
• Ann Leahy MP, Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers

Proposal type

• Minor and machinery in nature and no regulatory costs.

Details

The Water Amendment Regulation 2025 amends the Water Regulation 2016 (the Regulation) to:

• Update references to the ‘departmental website or Queensland government portal’
  • These website references in the Regulation are outdated and do not match those in the Water Act 2000 (Water Act). The intent is to simply update the wording in the Regulation and ensure that the publication occurs on a relevant Queensland Government website.
• Correct incorrect cross references related to accepted development
  • This will correct an erroneous cross reference to section 1014(2)(g) of the Water Act that should be to section 1014(2)(f).
• Correct errors related to duly qualified persons
  • This will correct an erroneous cross reference to section 104(2) of the Regulation that should be to section 104(3).
  • This will also update the definition of ‘modular meter’ to include modular meter configurations that involve only one sensor.
• List Elanda Point and Tangalooma Island Resort as prescribed entities that can hold a water licence that does not attach to land
  • This will allow for the continuation of existing lawful water take operations.
• Correct schedules 11 and 11A relating to measurement requirements.
  • This will correct errors and misstatements in the measurement requirements.
• Modernise public notification requirements for water allocation dealing applications.
  • The Chief Executive will be responsible for publishing these notifications on a Queensland Government website, not the water allocation holders.
  • The Chief Executive may still also require the applicant to publish a copy of the public submissions notice in some circumstances, but this will no longer be the default position.

These proposals are minor and have no regulatory costs. They are not subject to further regulatory impact analysis under the Queensland Government Better Regulation Policy.

Summary

DLGWV is making minor updates to the Water Regulation 2016 to fix errors and bring it in line with current legislation. These changes include updating website references, correcting cross-references to the Water Act 2000, improving definitions around water meters, and listing two new entities that can hold a water licence not attached to land.

This proposal is deregulatory in nature and is therefore not subject to further regulatory impact analysis under the Queensland Government Better Regulation Policy.

Read the summary impact assessment (PDF, 854KB) statement for the Water Amendment Regulation 2025.