Water Law Forum
Issues covered include: new general environmental duty, EPA, urban waterway law reform, water trading, Water and Catchment Legislation Reform
Description
How does the legal and statutory framework impact water management in Victoria? By attending this forum you will understand the recent legislative developments as well as gain a greater understanding of the risks, liabilities, limits and opportunities created by the legislation that governs water regulation in Victoria.
Attend and earn 4 CPD units in Substantive Law
This program is based on VIC legislation
Chair: Ilonar Millar, Partner, Baker McKenzie
9.00am to 9.05am: Opening Comments by the Chair
9.05am to 9.45am: Opening Address: Reshaping the Relationship Between Humans and Water
This address will highlight the growing transnational movement to give rivers and lakes legal personality and legal rights. What does is mean for water regulation and management in Victoria if they can sue or be sued?
Presented by Dr Erin O’Donnell, Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne
9.45am to 10.25am: NEW REGULATORY FRAMEWORK:
Modernised Environment Protection: the Environment Protection Act 2017 and its Effect on the Water Industry
- The new General Environmental Duty and its effect on the water industry
- EPA’s new information gathering powers
- Civil remedies and third party enforcement powers
- Judicial review under the new legislation
Presented by Michael Stagg, Managing Principal Solicitor, Environment Protection Authority Victoria
Commentary: Advising Commercial Operators & Authorities Operating Within the New Framework
Presented by Meredith Gibbs, Special Counsel, Baker McKenzie
10.25am to 11.10am: Water, Nature and Law in the City
- The significance and contemporary fate of urban waters and biodiversity
- Urban waterway law reform projects: Yarra, Melbourne’s west, Barwon
- Water law, planning law and ‘integration’ in ‘green infrastructure’
- Communities, partnerships and the law in ‘green infrastructure’
Presented by Dr Bruce Lindsay¸ Lawyer, Environmental Justice Australia
11.10am to 11.25am: Break
11.25am to 12.15pm: Water Trading 20 Years on: Has it Achieved its Objectives?
- Where is the water going and what does that mean for the environment?
- Do the aspirations of the ACCC for water trading and the Victorian and NSW water trading rules align?
Presented by Georgiena Ryan, Principal, Regional Business Lawyers
Commentary by the chair: Ilonar Millar, Partner, Baker McKenzie
12.15pm to 1.10pm: PANEL DISCUSSION: Pathways to Water Justice: Increasing Traditional Owner Participation in Managing Victoria’s River Systems
Explore government, indigenous, and industry perspectives on these critical issues, including analysis and commentary in relation to the Water and Catchment Legislation Amendment Bill 2019.
Facilitated by Ilona Millar, Partner, Baker McKenzie
Panellists:
Jason King, Principle Aboriginal Adviser, Resources Forestry & Game, Department Job Precincts and Regions
Dr Erin O’Donnell, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne
Will Mooney, Executive Officer Murray Lower Darling River Indigenous Nations( (MLDRIN)
Craig Feuerherdt, Business Development Manager, H2OX
1.10pm to 1.15pm: Final Q&A and Closing Comments by the Chair