WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1985
35
BILL TO CLARIFY WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
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THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985, WHICH SOUGHT TO CLARIFY CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID THE EXISTING ORDINANCE WAS LARGELY AN ENABLING ORDINANCE THAT SET OUT THE BASIC PRINCIPLES AND PROVISIONS OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS.
DETAILS OF THE METHODS OF CALCULATION OF QUANTITIES AND RATES OF DISCHARGES, THE FORM AND CONTENT OF NOTICES AND APPLICATIONS AND OTHER SUCH MATTERS WERE LEFT TO BE DEALT WITH IN REGULATIONS TO BE MADE BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE BILL SOUGHT TO CLARIFY THE EXISTING ORDINANCE IN THREE WAYS.
+FIRST OF ALL, IT WILL BRING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE ANY DISCHARGE OF OIL, OR A MIXTURE CONTAINING OIL, INTO WATERS INCLUDING INLAND WATERS - SITUATED INSIDE A WATER CONTROL ZONE, MR CHAMBERS SAID.
SECONDLY, MR CHAMBERS SAID, THE BILL SOUGHT TO SPECIFY WHO MIGHT CLAIM COMPENSATION FOLLOWING THE CANCELLATION OR VARIATION OF A LICENCE OR AN EXEMPTION IN RESPECT OF A DISCHARGE OR DEPOSIT OF MATTER INTO A WATER CONTROL ZONE.
+THIRDLY, THE BILL PROVIDES THAT, IN THE EVENT OF DISAGREEMENT OVER THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION, THE DISPUTE WOULD BE REFERRED TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL FOR DETERMINATION, MR CHAMBERS SAID.
MR CHAMBERS NOTED THAT COMPREHENSIVE REGULATIONS HAD BEEN DRAFTED AND PUBLISHED IN DRAFT FORM IN SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT NO. 5 OF THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE OF MAY 31, 1985.
THE DRAFT WATER POLLUTION CONTROL (GENERAL) REGULATIONS, AS IS INEVITABLE WITH POLLUTION CONTROL AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION, ARE QUITE LENGTHY AND SOMEWHAT COMPLEX, HE NOTED.
+EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION HAS TAKEN PLACE WITH INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL FIRMS INVOLVED IN THE INDUSTRIES WHICH WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE REGULATIONS, BUT IT IS CONSIDERED DESIRABLE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THEM,+ MR CHAMBERS SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PUBLIC HAD BEEN INVITED TO SEND IN THEIR VIEWS TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH AND HE ALSO WELCOMED ANY COMMENTS FROM FELLOW MEMBERS.
/HIGHLIGHTING