From: Ethos, March 2012 - Issue 223
Reviewed by Brendan Jones, Moray & Agnew
As water has become an increasingly precious resource in Australia the legislature has intervened to ensure it is properly managed. Indicative of that, Australia’s water law is almost entirely statue based whereas historically, it was governed purely by the common law inherited from England.
This text explores the various laws and regulations that collectively comprise Australia’s body of water law. In doing so, the authors have included insightful discussions of all key principles, covering topics such as the right to access and use water, trading in water and water quality.
Water, by its nature, requires management plans, which the legislation aims to promote, that work across various jurisdictions. In that context the text looks at all applicable legislation, at both a state and federal level. This reviewer was particularly impressed that the authors chose to analyse, in depth, each jurisdiction’s legislative regime.
Incorporated into that discussion, is a consideration of the bodies and water plans that stand behind the legislation. Consequently the text steps out of the purely theoretical realm into more practical areas, an approach readers will find refreshing.
A quick glance of the title might suggest this is a text of little relevance for most practitioners. However, all readers will be able to fish out useful pieces of information and find reading it, even if their attention is limited to their own jurisdiction, useful.
To the authors’ credit they have produced a good authoritative text on a potentially dry topic.
Environment & Environmental Management