As fracking approaches, Northern Territory to pump up fines for breaching revised Water Act

The Northern Territory Government is getting ready to change its Water Act in what has been described as its most significant amendments since 1992.

The NT Government is proposing some major changes to its Water Act.

At the heart of the change is to make sure mining and petroleum companies are no longer exempt from water-use regulation.

With the NT's moratorium on fracking now lifted and gas companies expected to start the controversial practice next year, the NT's Department of Environment and Natural Resources is working on a series of reforms to update the Territory's laws around water.

NT Water Controller Jo Townsend said mining companies are required to obtain a water extraction licence in all states and territories in Australia, except the Northern Territory — an oversight that needed to be addressed.

Read the story by Matt Bran from ABC News - “As fracking approaches, Northern Territory to pump up fines for breaching revised Water Act.”