Our Expertise

Water
Law

Beatty Hughes & Associates is recognised for its technical legal expertise in Water Law

Beatty Hughes & Associates has a detailed understanding of the regulatory regime for the taking and use of water in NSW and on environmental impact assessment requirements for projects with impacts on groundwater or surface water conditions. 

We work closely with hydrologists, hydrogeologists, coastal engineers, water resources engineers and modellers.

How we can assist

Identifying water licences or approvals required for dewatering – in the context of building excavation, mining, or remediation works;

Advising on environmental impact assessment requirements for projects with potential ground water and surface water impacts;

Negotiating with water authorities in relation to water extraction entitlements;

Negotiating and drafting mining agreements on behalf of landowners, inclusive of water access and use entitlements and monitoring obligations between our client landowners and the relevant mining companies.

Our recent experience in Water Law

Advice on the application of the Water Management Act 2000 (NSW) and the NSW Aquifer Interference Policy on a proposal to construct residential flat buildings and then dewater the basements of those buildings, which were located within an aquifer.

Advice on whether a licence is required under the Water Management Act 2000 (NSW) in relation to dewatering required to carry out contaminated land remediation works.

Assisting in the negotiation of water access terms in mining agreements between mining companies and affected landowners.

Advice on the application of water access licensing requirements under the Water Management Act 2000 (NSW) in sand mining

Assisting in the negotiation of water entitlements for rural landowners

Assisting in the preparation of submissions to consent authorities on surface water and ground water impacts of a number of large scale mining projects

Prepared submissions to the Natural Resources Commission on behalf of a landowner in relation the draft Evaluation Framework for the Review of Water Sharing Plans and on the Water Sharing Plan for the Lachlan Unregulated River Water Sources 2012

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