Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996


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WATER RESOURCES (PIONEER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY AREA AND BOARD) REGULATION 1996
Queensland Water Resources Act 1989 WATER RESOURCES (PIONEER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY AREA AND BOARD) REGULATION 1996 Reprinted as in force on 6 December 1996 (regulation not amended up to this date) Reprint No. 1 This reprint is prepared by the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel Warning—This reprint is not an authorised copy
Information about this reprint This regulation is reprinted as at 6 December 1996. See endnotes for information about when provisions commenced.
Queensland WATER RESOURCES (PIONEER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY AREA AND BOARD) REGULATION 1996 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Section Page PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 PART 2—CONSTITUTION OF WATER SUPPLY AREA AND BOARD 3 Constitution of water supply area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 Constitution of board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 Appointment of chief executive to administer area—Act, s 209 . . . . . . . . . 4 PART 3—COMPOSITION OF BOARD 6 Composition of board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 PART 4—ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS Division 1—Returning officer 7 Returning officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Division 2—Pre-election procedures 8 Roll of voters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 9 Nominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 10 When ballot must be held . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 11 Preparing ballot papers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 12 Distributing voting material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 13 How long ballot is open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 14 How to vote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 15 How returning officer must deal with voting material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 16 Scrutiny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 17 Initial scrutiny of voting material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 18 Counting votes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 19 What happens if votes for 2 or more candidates are equal . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 20 Declaring election result . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 21 Term of office of elected board members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 22 Filling casual vacancies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 23 Re-electing members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 PART 5—BOARD’S AUTHORISED WORKS 24 Board’s authorised works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 PART 6—PROPOSAL EFFECTED 25 Proposal effected by regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SCHEDULE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 PIONEER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY AREA AND WATER BOARD (PROPOSED CONSTITUTION) NOTICE (NO. 1) 1996 ENDNOTES 1 Index to endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 2 Date to which amendments incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 3 Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 4 List of legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
s1 3 s3 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 WATER RESOURCES (PIONEER VALLEY WATER SUPPLY AREA AND BOARD) REGULATION 1996 [reprinted as in force on 6 December 1996] PART 1—PRELIMINARY ˙ Short title 1. This regulation may be cited as the Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 . ˙ Definitions 2. In this regulation— “area” see section 3. “board” see section 4. “ratepayer” means a ratepayer for the area. “ratepayer for the area” see section 6. PART 2—CONSTITUTION OF WATER SUPPLY AREA AND BOARD ˙ Constitution of water supply area 3.(1) The area within the boundaries shown on plan number A3–201239
s4 4 s6 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 held by the department 1 is constituted as a water supply area (the “area” ). (2) The name assigned to the area is the Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area. ˙ Constitution of board 4.(1) A board (the “board” ) is constituted for the area. (2) The name assigned to the board is the Pioneer Valley Water Board. (3) Subsections (1) and (2) take effect immediately after the first members of the board have been appointed and elected. ˙ Appointment of chief executive to administer area—Act, s 209 5. The chief executive is appointed to administer the area until the board is constituted. PART 3—COMPOSITION OF BOARD ˙ Composition of board 6.(1) The board consists of the following members— (a) 3 persons nominated by the Mackay Sugar Co-operative Association Limited and appointed by the Governor in Council; (b) a person nominated by the chief executive and appointed by the Governor in Council; 1 A copy of the plan may be inspected, free of charge, at the office of the Department of Natural Resources, 41 George Street, Brisbane or Tennyson Street, Mackay.
s7 5 s7 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 (c) 3 qualified persons 2 elected by the ratepayers for the area. (2) A person is a “ratepayer for the area” if the rates or charges that the person is named in the books or records of the chief executive or the board as being liable to pay are rates and charges for land in the area. PART 4—ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS Division 1—Returning officer ˙ Returning officer 7.(1) The returning officer for an election of board members is an appropriate person appointed by— (a) for the first election—the chief executive; and (b) for a subsequent election—the board. (2) The returning officer— (a) must conduct an election in the way stated in this part; and (b) may take the action and give the directions the returning officer considers reasonably necessary— (i) to ensure no irregularities happen in the election; or (ii) to remedy a procedural defect that appears to the returning officer to exist in relation to the election. (3) The returning officer must not influence, or attempt to influence, the outcome of an election. Maximum penalty—40 penalty units. 2 Under section 136 of the Act, a person is qualified to be elected to the board only if the person is an owner, part owner or occupier of land in the area or lives in the area. If the person is a body corporate, an individual nominated by the body corporate is the person qualified to be elected.
s8 6 s8 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 (4) If the returning officer is not reasonably able to perform the functions of returning officer (for example, because of illness), the returning officer must appoint someone else to act in the office while the returning officer is unable to perform the functions. (5) If the returning officer fails to appoint someone else, the appointment may be made by— (a) for the first election—the chief executive; and (b) for a subsequent election—the board. Division 2—Pre-election procedures ˙ Roll of voters 8.(1) The returning officer must compile a roll of voters that states the full name and address of each ratepayer. (2) If 2 or more ratepayers are joint owners or occupiers, the returning officer must request them to nominate in writing an individual to represent them. (3) The returning officer must insert on the roll the name and address of— (a) the person nominated; or (b) if no-one is nominated—the owner or occupier whose name appears first in the records of the chief executive or the board. (4) The returning officer must— (a) allow a ratepayer to inspect the roll, free of charge, at the board’s public office premises during business hours; and (b) on payment of a reasonable fee—give the ratepayer a copy of the roll. (5) A person who is a ratepayer whose name does not appear on the roll may apply in writing to the returning officer to have the person’s name included on the roll.
s 9 7 s 10 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 (6) If the returning officer is satisfied the person is a ratepayer, the returning officer must insert the person’s name and address on the roll. ˙ Nominations 9.(1) The returning officer must, by written notice to each ratepayer, call for nominations of qualified persons for election to the board. (2) The notice must state— (a) the day and time (at least 14 days after the notice is given) when nominations close; and (b) the day (not more than 28 days after nominations close) when voting material will be given to ratepayers if a ballot is necessary. (3) A nomination must be— (a) written; and (b) signed by the candidate and 2 ratepayers; and (c) given to the returning officer before nominations close. (4) A candidate may withdraw a nomination by written notice to the returning officer no later than 1 hour before nominations close. ˙ When ballot must be held 10.(1) If, after nominations have closed, the number of candidates is not more than the number to be elected— (a) the returning officer must declare the candidates elected to the board; and (b) any office that has not been filled may be filled by the Governor in Council under section 134 of the Act. 3 (2) However, if the number of candidates is more than the number to be elected, the returning officer must conduct a secret ballot. 3 Section 134 of the Act (Appointment of board members)
s 11 8 s 12 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 (3) Failure to comply with sections 11, 12, 15, 17, 18 and 20 does not affect the validity of a ballot. 4 ˙ Preparing ballot papers 11.(1) A ballot paper must— (a) be made of paper that will hide a vote marked on it from view when it is folded once; and (b) list the names of each candidate for election once, with the surname first, followed by the candidate’s other names; and (c) state how the ratepayer may vote; and (d) state the day and time the ballot starts and the day and time it ends; and (e) state that, for the vote to be counted, the ratepayer must fill in and sign the declaration form. (2) If 2 or more candidates have the same surname and other names, the candidates must be distinguished in an appropriate way. Example The occupation of each candidate may be added to the ballot paper. (3) The order of names on the ballot paper must be decided by lot. ˙ Distributing voting material 12.(1) The returning officer must give the following things (the “voting material” ) to each ratepayer— (a) a ballot paper initialled by the returning officer; (b) a ballot envelope; 4 Section 11 (Preparing ballot papers) Section 12 (Distributing voting material) Section 15 (How returning officer must deal with voting material) Section 17 (Initial scrutiny of voting material) Section 18 (Counting votes) Section 20 (Declaring election result)
s 13 9 s 14 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 (c) a declaration form stating ‘I certify that I am the person to whom this voting material has been given and I have voted on the ballot paper enclosed.’; (d) a return envelope addressed to the returning officer. (2) The voting material must be given not more than 28 days after nominations close to arrive, if practicable, no later than the last working day before the ballot starts. (3) If a ratepayer gives the returning officer written notice that the ratepayer will be absent from the address stated on the roll when voting material is to be given, the returning officer must give the ratepayer the material at the other address (if any) stated in the notice. (4) Before giving voting material to a ratepayer, the returning officer must mark a ballot number on— (a) the roll against the ratepayer’s name; and (b) the declaration form; and (c) the return envelope. (5) The ballot numbers must start with a number chosen by the returning officer. (6) After giving the voting material, the returning officer must obtain a lockable ballot box and keys and keep them in a safe place. ˙ How long ballot is open 13. The ballot must remain open for at least 14 days. ˙ How to vote 14.(1) A ratepayer may vote only once in each election. (2) A ratepayer may vote by completing the following steps— (a) writing a tick or a cross in the squares opposite the names of up to 3 candidates on the ballot paper; (b) putting the ballot paper in the ballot envelope;
s 15 10 s 16 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 (c) sealing the ballot envelope; (d) filling in and signing the declaration; (e) putting the declaration and the ballot envelope in the return envelope; (f) sealing the return envelope; (g) returning the return envelope to the returning officer before voting closes by— (i) posting it to the returning officer; or (ii) putting it in the ballot box. (3) The returning officer must provide a ratepayer who wishes to vote at a polling booth with an unoccupied voting compartment in which to vote in private. (4) If a ratepayer satisfies the returning officer that voting material given to the ratepayer has been lost, stolen or destroyed, the returning officer must give the ratepayer duplicate voting material. ˙ How returning officer must deal with voting material 15.(1) The returning officer must put each return envelope received before voting closes into the ballot box. (2) If the returning officer receives a return envelope after voting closes, the returning officer must— (a) mark the envelope ‘Received by the returning officer after voting closed.’; and (b) keep the envelope separate from return envelopes received before voting closed. ˙ Scrutiny 16.(1) Before voting closes, the returning officer must give each candidate written notice of when and where votes are to be collected, examined and counted. (2) A candidate may appoint 1 scrutineer to observe, with or without the
s 17 11 s 17 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 candidate, the collection, examination and counting of votes. (3) The candidate must give the returning officer written notice of the appointment. (4) When a scrutineer arrives for the collection, examination and counting, the scrutineer must show the returning officer a copy of the notice of appointment or other suitable identification. (5) The failure of a candidate or scrutineer to attend the scrutiny of votes does not affect the validity of the election. ˙ Initial scrutiny of voting material 17.(1) As soon as possible after voting closes, the returning officer must— (a) take the ballot box to the place notified to the candidates as the place where votes are to be counted; and (b) deal with the votes in the way stated in this section in the presence of the candidates and scrutineers at the place. (2) The returning officer must— (a) open each return envelope; and (b) take the declaration and ballot envelope out of the return envelope. (3) The returning officer must put the declaration and the ballot envelope into separate containers if the returning officer is satisfied about the following matters— (a) the ballot number on the declaration corresponds with the ballot number marked beside the name of a ratepayer on the roll; (b) the person who filled in and signed the declaration is— (i) the ratepayer to whom the declaration was given; or (ii) a ratepayer who has not previously voted in the election and has a reasonable explanation for using someone else’s voting material. (4) If subsection (3)(b)(ii) applies, the returning officer must—
s 18 12 s 20 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 (a) note the acceptance of the explanation on the declaration; and (b) record the correct ballot number on the roll against the name of the ratepayer who signed the declaration. (5) If the returning officer is not satisfied about a matter mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b), the returning officer must keep the unsatisfactory voting material separate from the satisfactory voting material. (6) The returning officer must then note the fact that the ratepayer has voted against the ratepayer’s name on the roll. ˙ Counting votes 18.(1) After separating the declaration forms and ballot envelopes, the returning officer must do the following in order— (a) seal the container holding declaration forms; (b) open the ballot envelopes; (c) take the ballot papers out of the ballot envelopes; (d) examine the ballot papers for votes; (e) count the votes. (2) The returning officer must not include an informal vote in the count. (3) A vote is not informal if the ratepayer’s intention is clear. ˙ What happens if votes for 2 or more candidates are equal 19. If the votes for 2 or more candidates are equal, the candidate elected must be decided by lots drawn by the returning officer. ˙ Declaring election result 20.(1) The returning officer must give each candidate a signed declaration of the result of the election. (2) If the election involved a ballot, the declaration must state the following—
s 21 13 s 22 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 (a) how many ratepayers were on the roll when voting closed; (b) how many ballot papers were printed; (c) how many ballot papers were issued; (d) how many duplicate ballot papers were issued; (e) how many ballot papers were returned; (f) how many ballot papers were returned as unclaimed mail; (g) how many ballot papers were not returned; (h) how many ballot papers were rejected during scrutiny and the reasons for rejection; (i) how many ballot papers were counted; (j) the percentage of ratepayers who voted. Examples of reasons for rejection mentioned in paragraph (h) 1. The declaration form was not returned. 2. The ratepayer did not sign the declaration form. (3) A scrutineer may countersign the declaration. ˙ Term of office of elected board members 21. An elected board member holds office for 3 years. ˙ Filling casual vacancies 22.(1) If a casual vacancy arises in the office of an elected board member, the office must be filled by the election of someone else under this part. 5 (2) However, the person elected to fill the vacancy holds office only for the rest of the term of the office that became vacant. 5 Under the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 25(1)(b), the power of the Governor in Council to appoint a member who is not elected includes a power to appoint someone else if the member’s office becomes vacant.
s 23 14 s 25 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 ˙ Re-electing members 23. An elected member is eligible for re-election, unless the member is disqualified from becoming a member. 6 PART 5—BOARD’S AUTHORISED WORKS ˙ Board’s authorised works 24. The board’s authorised works are stated in section 8 of the notice in the schedule. PART 6—PROPOSAL EFFECTED ˙ Proposal effected by regulation 25. This regulation gives effect to the proposal contained in the notice in the schedule. 6 Under the Acts Interpretation Act 1954 , section 25(1)(c), the power of the Governor in Council to appoint a member who is not elected includes a power to reappoint if the member is eligible to be appointed. Section 141 of the Act deals with the disqualification for board membership.
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53 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 ENDNOTES ´ 1 Index to endnotes Page 2 Date to which amendments incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 3 Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 4 List of legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 ´ 2 Date to which amendments incorporated This is the reprint date mentioned in the Reprints Act 1992, section 5(c). However, no amendments have commenced operation on or before that day. Future amendments of the Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 may be made in accordance with this reprint under the Reprints Act 1992, section 49. 3 ´ AIA amd ch def div exp gaz hdg ins lap notfd om o in c p para prec pres prev = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Key Key to abbreviations in list of legislation and annotations Acts Interpretation Act 1954 amended chapter definition division expires/expired gazette heading inserted lapsed notified omitted order in council page paragraph preceding present previous (prev) proc prov pt pubd R[X] RA reloc renum rep s sch sdiv SIA SL sub unnum = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = previously proclamation provision part published Reprint No.[X] Reprints Act 1992 relocated renumbered repealed section schedule subdivision Statutory Instruments Act 1992 subordinate legislation substituted unnumbered
54 Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 ´ 4 List of legislation Water Resources (Pioneer Valley Water Supply Area and Board) Regulation 1996 SL No. 166 notfd gaz 28 June 1996 pp 1164–70 commenced on date of notification © State of Queensland 1996