The Northern Territory Government has launched an online water portal, providing Territorians with increased access to water planning and licensing information.
The portal will include access to all relevant legislative and administrative information with regards to licensing and Water Allocation Planning, including: assessment investigations, planning information, maps, extraction source (ground or surface), current licence details, and documentation in relation to each current and advertised water extraction licence.
The Northern Territory Government aims to engage with the community on water allocations and effective water management, and provide certainty, transparency and fairness to water use policy.
The portal grants the public access to water licensing decisions for all current water allocation licences and the website goes beyond the current process of advertising the notice of decision in NT newspapers.
Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, Lauren Moss, said she was proud to be part of an open and transparent Government.
“We are returning transparency and fairness to water use by reinstating community-based Water Advisory Committees, ensuring Indigenous communities have access to water allocations for economic development opportunities on country, ensuring all large water users apply for a water licence, including currently exempt mining and petroleum operations, and constructing this new water portal,” Ms Moss said.
“I encourage all Territorians interested in the environment, and water use in particular, to view the website and familiarise themselves with this invaluable source.”
The portal includes:
- Information on licensing and water allocation principles
- Links to water allocation plans
- Water advisory committee information
- Maps of licences in relation to water control districts and allocation plan boundaries
- Individual licence details including factors considered in granting a licence
- Spatial and dashboard analytical representation of information
- Links to scientific reports and publications
