Legislative framework
The Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998 (the Act) is the legislation that defines the roles, functions and objectives of the Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA).
The role of the SCA under the Act is to:
- manage and protect the catchment areas and catchment infrastructure
- supply bulk water
- regulate certain activities in or affecting the inner and outer catchment areas.
The principal objectives of the SCA under the Act are to:
- manage and protect the catchment areas and the catchment infrastructure to promote water quality
- protect public health and safety, and the environment
- ensure that water supplied by the SCA complies with appropriate quality standards
- conduct its activities, where they affect the environment, in compliance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development in section 6 (2) of the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991
- manage the SCA's catchment infrastructure works efficiently, economically, and in accordance with sound commercial principles.
The main functions of the SCA under the Act are to:
- protect and enhance the quality and quantity of water in the catchments
- manage and protect the catchment areas, and catchment infrastructure
- supply bulk water to Sydney Water, other water supply authorities and direct customers
- protect and enhance water quality
- research catchments generally, and the health of its own catchments in particular
- help educate the community about water management and catchment protection.
Other instruments that govern the way the SCA operates include:
