Ms Marie O'Connor:

Regarding thresholds, our starting point is the risk-based approach. There has been much discussion about the thresholds, including the lower thresholds and those that are going through the graded system. Our data, evidence and analysis show that these are reasonable thresholds and will allow us to focus our efforts and resources where the environmental risk is greatest. As laid out in the scheme, this will ensure that where an environmental risk is imposed by a water abstraction, particularly larger volumes, it will come to the EPA for licensing and undergo a detailed EIA while we are assessing and a making decision on the licensing application. The resources question is nearly as matched to the risk-based approach as it is to the environmental risk. One is balancing the burden and the environmental risk, which is approximately 6% of water bodies nationally. This approach allows us to focus our efforts where the risks are greatest.

Many of the 490 abstractions that we estimate will require authorisations will be drinking water supplies and abstractions from industry. As such, they will be larger abstractions.

We have secured some resources to enable us to establish the licensing regime and make further efforts to understand the data and evidence that underpin the abstractions.

From the enforcement side of things, there will be a requirement to dedicate staff to that once the licensing regime is in place to ensure it is effectively resourced, and ensure we can enforce it as we do in all our licensing regimes in the EPA.

I ask my colleague, Ms Gurrie, to discuss local authorities.