Areas Legislative instrument Description Status and relevance to the Lake Eyre Basin rivers Environmental protection (continued) Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) This Commonwealth legislation may be triggered when a development proposal could have significant impact on matters of national environmental significance. This includes Coongie Lakes in South Australia, a Ramsar- listed wetland. This legislation has limited powers to deal with and control small cumulative developments or water planning processes. Resource development Water Act 2000 (Qld) This legislation focuses on sustainable management of water and other resources, through legal and policy frameworks, water resource plans and resource operations plans. These plans determine the allocation and management of water for consumptive purposes and may provide reserves of unallocated water for future development. It also establishes the responsibilities of water service providers, including Local Authorities. This is the most important and powerful legislation, usually overriding most other legislative instruments in relation to the allocation and management of Queensland water resources. Mineral Resources Act 1989 (Qld) This legislation allows assessment for the development of mineral resources, consistent with sound economic and land use management. Any new mining project must apply for a mining tenement under the Mineral Resources ActAll . environmental assessments and authorities for mines are dealt with under the Environmental Protection Act. This is strong legislation which the Liberal National Government (2012–15) strengthened by granting a statutory right to take or interfere with underground water associated with mining operations, without a Water Act authorisation. Amendments made under the Environmental Protection (Underground Water Management) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2016 introduced an associated water licencing process to the Water Act 2000 . This provided for more transparency and more of a focus on unacceptable environmental impacts, as well as process for objection by third parties. This process applies to petroleum and gas and mining operations. 20 – Sustainable management of the Lake Eyre Basin rivers 201