Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Urban water rights exist...for some

By Greg Cameron - posted Monday, 6 June 2011


According to the government, water on a person's roof is surface water.

Surface water is ''non-taken'' water.

However, it is impossible for water on a roof to be ''non-taken'' when water in a rainwater tank is ''taken''.

Advertisement

The legal meaning of surface water is water flowing over land after having fallen as rain.

It is impossible for the meaning of surface water to include water collected from roofs for rainwater tanks.

To clarify the government's position, the government has been asked this question: Is water legally captured from its natural source and taken under a person's control when it falls as rain on that person's roof?

The answer ''no'' will mean that a person does not capture rain and take it under their control by means of their roof.

The answer ''yes'' will mean that the government does not have the legal right to tax the use of water collected from roofs for rainwater tanks.

 

Advertisement

Tasmanian Government Policy

 

Government policy is that rain on a building is dispersed surface water because the rain would have fallen on land were the building not there; however, the government is unsure whether a person's roof is a device for taking rain (Attachment 25).

The matter is resolved by reference to state building regulations, which set out the manner by which rain must be captured and taken under a person's control when it falls on that person's roof.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. Page 4
  6. 5
  7. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

3 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

For the last decade, Greg Cameron gdc99@bigpond.com has researched the political and economic implications of rainwater tanks as a major new source of urban drinking water supply for Australia.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Greg Cameron

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 3 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy