No consultation over new water laws: CLC

The Territory Economic Reconstruction Committee (TERC) Omnibus Bill and the Environmental Law Bills which are set to be tabled in NT Parliament later this month, which amend the Water Act 1992.

CLC chief executive Lesley Turner said the legislation was drafted without consultation despite its potential ramifications.

"Staff of the Department of Environment assured us that no further legislative reform would proceed without consultation," Mr Turner said.

"We are appalled to find more substantive amendments to the Water Act published on the department's website, without notice, just weeks later.

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"Having failed to properly inform traditional landowners and invite public comment the government now seems intent on preventing us all from considering the wide-ranging implications of the proposed legislation."

Mr Turner said the proposed legislation fast-tracks approvals for developers, but does nothing to address the urgent threat to remote community drinking water.

"We are very concerned that the proposed amendments will further lower the bar for water licence approvals and shift ministerial oversight to unelected public servants," Mr Turner said.

"The changes will make it easier for developers and speculators to get 30-year groundwater licences for free and for the responsible minister to shift accountability for decisions to the unelected water controller."

Mr Gunner's office has been contacted for comment.

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