Agency
State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (SRWSC)
VA 723
1906 - 1984
Agency names
Officially known as: State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (SRWSC)
Establishment
The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (SRWSC) was established by the Water Act 1905 and the first three Commissioners were appointed in May 1906: Stuart Murray, George Janson and William Cattanach.
The establishment of the SRWSC stemmed from a recognition that there was a need for a single, powerful and independent authority to coordinate and manage the State's rural water resources. The Water Act 1905 therefore vested overall responsibility for conservation and distribution of Victoria's rural water supplies for irrigation, industrial and urban purposes with the SRWSC. Under the new Act, the Victorian Water Supply Department's (VA 2787) responsibilities relating to water and irrigation trusts, water rights and those operations it carried out for the Board of Land and Works (VA 744) under s.283-291 of the Water Act 1890 passed to SRWSC.
A few legislative provisions remained the responsibility of the Department's Chief Engineer, but these were removed by the Water Act 1909, which formally merged the Department and its remaining staff into the SRWSC. Stuart Murray, while still retaining the position of Chief Engineer of the Department, became the first Chairman of the SRWSC. In 1913 he was replaced as Chief Engineer and Chairman by Elwood Mead. The years 1906 to 1909 saw a gradual scaling down of the activities of the Victorian Water Supply Department and transfer of its staff to SRWSC.
Responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the SRWSC were:
From 1969, under the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (Special Projects) Act 1969, it was empowered to provide consulting services outside Victoria
Functions
The 1905 Act vested in the SRWSC statutory responsibility for:
The Board of Land and Works (VA 744) continued to have statutory responsibility for construction of "national works", although the actual construction was managed by the SRWSC. Statutory responsibility for construction was transferred to the SRWSC by the Water Act 1909.
Oversight of Local Authorities
The 1905 Act reconstituted local water, sewerage and irrigation authorities, bringing them under the SRWSC's general jurisdiction. Rural water supply, sewerage and irrigation schemes continued to be directly managed by a variety of local authorities, including municipalities; mostly constituted under the Water Act, but some with their own legislation. From 1958 sewerage authorities were constituted under the Sewerage Districts Act 1958. Increasingly, the SRWSC took responsibility for construction of waterworks, while local authorities were responsible for reticulation, management and distribution. In January 1984, under the Water and Sewerage Authorities (Restructuring) Act 1983 and Water (Amendment) Act 1983, responsibility for the oversight of local authorities passed to the Ministry of Water Resources and Water Supply (VA 641), and the Local Authorities Division of the SRWSC was transferred to the Ministry.
Waterworks and Supply Schemes
In addition to its responsibilities for construction of waterworks and oversight of local authorities, the SRWSC itself directly managed water supply schemes in a growing number of rural areas. These schemes included a number of large urban supplies. Originally the SRWSC took over responsibility for the Coliban (Bendigo - Castlemaine) and Geelong schemes from the Victorian Water Supply Department. It later took on other urban schemes, including the Mornington Peninsula, Bellarine and Otways systems. From 1915 SRWSC became the authority for building and maintaining water works in Victoria under the River Murray Waters Agreement.
River Improvement Schemes
Following a Parliamentary Public Works Committee of Inquiry in 1945, the SRWSC took on additional responsibilities for river management and improvement together with the oversight of local River Improvement Trusts.
Groundwater
The Groundwater Act 1969 vested in the SRWSC responsibility for the utilisation and conservation of groundwater. The Act was jointly administered with the Department of Minerals and Energy (VA 611) which was responsible for exploration and investigation.
Soil Conservation
The Minister for Water Supply and SRWSC were early sponsors of soil conservation in Victoria because of their growing concern with sand-drifts in the Wimmera-Mallee. A bye-law, incorporated in amendments to the Water Act 1942, enabled SRWSC to control cultivation of land subject to drift near water channels. The Minister was a sponsor of the Soil Conservation Act 1940, which established the Soil Conservation Board (VA 1056). The Soil Conservation and Land Utilisation Act 1947 established the Land Utilisation Council to advise on land use in catchment areas and the Council included SRWSC representation. SRWSC also acted as the delegated authority of the Environment Protection Authority (VA 1058) from 1973 with respect to water pollution in rural areas, and had certain responsibilities relating to soil conservation.
Closer Settlement
The Closer Settlement Act 1912 transferred the control and administration of land suitable for settlement only under irrigation conditions or situated within an Irrigation and Water Supply District to the SRWSC from the Closer Settlement Board (VA 2266). SRWSC thus acquired the power to purchase, dispose and administer lands in accordance with the general provisions of the Closer Settlement Acts, subject to the decision of the Minister responsible for the Acts.
Under the provision of s.2 of the Discharged Soldier's Settlement Act 1917 the SRWSC was granted the control and administration of the settlement of returned servicemen and women on irrigable land.
The provisions of the Empire Settlement Act 1922 encouraged approved British immigrants to migrate to Australia for the purpose of land settlement or to augment the labour force. Subject to the Commonwealth and State Agreement of 1922, the SRWSC had responsibility for the control and administration of the settlement of assisted British immigrants on irrigable land.
In 1932 under the provisions of the Closer Settlement Act 1932 the newly appointed Closer Settlement Commission (VA 2268) assumed the powers and obligations of the SRWSC in respect of the settlement and occupation of irrigable lands.
In the post second World War period, closer settlement in irrigation areas was managed jointly by the SRWSC and the Soldier Settlement Commission (VA 2270) until 1962, then the Rural Finance and Settlement Commission (VA 2273) until 1977, then Rural Finance Commission (VA 1073) until 1988. The areas involved were the Murray Valley, Robinvale, Nambroh-Denison and Macalister. The work was undertaken by the SRWSC on behalf of the Soldier Settlement Commission under the provisions of the Soldier Settlement Act 1946, s.11(2).
Organisational Structure
Initially the SRWSC operated outside the public service. However, in 1939 following a Royal Commission in 1936, officers of the SRWSC were brought into the public service under the Public Service (Transfer of Officers) Act 1937. From 1939 the SRWSC was deemed to be the "Department of Water Supply" for the purposes of the Public Service Act, and its Chairman the permanent head of the Department. It should be noted that the "Department of Water Supply" in all other respects did not exist. This situation continued, even following the Water Resources Act 1975, which established a Ministry of Water Resources and Water Supply (VA 641). Thereafter until 1983 the Chairman was deemed to be the permanent head of the Ministry for the purposes of the Public Service Act.
Water Resources Council
The Council, established by the Water Resources Act 1975, advised the Minister on water resources, drainage and sewerage matters. All three State Rivers and Water Supply Commissioners were members of the Council.
Abolition
The SRWSC was abolished by the Water (Central Management Restructuring) Act 1984 (s.14) and its major powers, responsibilities and assets were passed to the Rural Water Commission (VA 2338) on 1 July 1984. Its responsibilities for rural water resource policy were taken on by the new Department of Water Resources (VA 2354). The Commissioners held their last meeting on 25 June 1984. Prior to its abolition, responsibility for oversight of local water and sewerage authorities had passed to the Ministry of Water Resources and Water Supply (VA 641) on 1 January 1984 under the Water and Sewerage Authorities (Restructuring) Act 1983. The restructuring followed a review by the Public Bodies Review Committee of Victoria's non-metropolitan water industry.
The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (SRWSC) was established by the Water Act 1905 and the first three Commissioners were appointed in May 1906: Stuart Murray, George Janson and William Cattanach.
The establishment of the SRWSC stemmed from a recognition that there was a need for a single, powerful and independent authority to coordinate and manage the State's rural water resources. The Water Act 1905 therefore vested overall responsibility for conservation and distribution of Victoria's rural water supplies for irrigation, industrial and urban purposes with the SRWSC. Under the new Act, the Victorian Water Supply Department's (VA 2787) responsibilities relating to water and irrigation trusts, water rights and those operations it carried out for the Board of Land and Works (VA 744) under s.283-291 of the Water Act 1890 passed to SRWSC.
A few legislative provisions remained the responsibility of the Department's Chief Engineer, but these were removed by the Water Act 1909, which formally merged the Department and its remaining staff into the SRWSC. Stuart Murray, while still retaining the position of Chief Engineer of the Department, became the first Chairman of the SRWSC. In 1913 he was replaced as Chief Engineer and Chairman by Elwood Mead. The years 1906 to 1909 saw a gradual scaling down of the activities of the Victorian Water Supply Department and transfer of its staff to SRWSC.
Responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the SRWSC were:
- provision of advice about rural water resources and management to the Minister, landowners, and client groups
- surveying, gauging and reporting on surface water resources
- investigation, construction and management of water supply and drainage schemes for domestic, stock, industry and irrigation purposes
- oversight of local water, irrigation, sewerage, drainage and river improvement authorities
- flood plain management, flood protection and reclamation schemes
- river improvements, stream management and conservation, salinity and water quality control
- utilisation and conservation of underground water resources
- licensing of diversion of surface and underground waters.
From 1969, under the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (Special Projects) Act 1969, it was empowered to provide consulting services outside Victoria
Functions
The 1905 Act vested in the SRWSC statutory responsibility for:
- surveys of available water resources and planning for their storage and utilisation
- oversight of local water, sewerage and irrigation authorities, including administration of loans
- gauging of rivers and streams and reporting on results
- boring and exploration for underground water
- ownership and management of proclaimed "national works" (waterworks of State-wide significance).
The Board of Land and Works (VA 744) continued to have statutory responsibility for construction of "national works", although the actual construction was managed by the SRWSC. Statutory responsibility for construction was transferred to the SRWSC by the Water Act 1909.
Oversight of Local Authorities
The 1905 Act reconstituted local water, sewerage and irrigation authorities, bringing them under the SRWSC's general jurisdiction. Rural water supply, sewerage and irrigation schemes continued to be directly managed by a variety of local authorities, including municipalities; mostly constituted under the Water Act, but some with their own legislation. From 1958 sewerage authorities were constituted under the Sewerage Districts Act 1958. Increasingly, the SRWSC took responsibility for construction of waterworks, while local authorities were responsible for reticulation, management and distribution. In January 1984, under the Water and Sewerage Authorities (Restructuring) Act 1983 and Water (Amendment) Act 1983, responsibility for the oversight of local authorities passed to the Ministry of Water Resources and Water Supply (VA 641), and the Local Authorities Division of the SRWSC was transferred to the Ministry.
Waterworks and Supply Schemes
In addition to its responsibilities for construction of waterworks and oversight of local authorities, the SRWSC itself directly managed water supply schemes in a growing number of rural areas. These schemes included a number of large urban supplies. Originally the SRWSC took over responsibility for the Coliban (Bendigo - Castlemaine) and Geelong schemes from the Victorian Water Supply Department. It later took on other urban schemes, including the Mornington Peninsula, Bellarine and Otways systems. From 1915 SRWSC became the authority for building and maintaining water works in Victoria under the River Murray Waters Agreement.
River Improvement Schemes
Following a Parliamentary Public Works Committee of Inquiry in 1945, the SRWSC took on additional responsibilities for river management and improvement together with the oversight of local River Improvement Trusts.
Groundwater
The Groundwater Act 1969 vested in the SRWSC responsibility for the utilisation and conservation of groundwater. The Act was jointly administered with the Department of Minerals and Energy (VA 611) which was responsible for exploration and investigation.
Soil Conservation
The Minister for Water Supply and SRWSC were early sponsors of soil conservation in Victoria because of their growing concern with sand-drifts in the Wimmera-Mallee. A bye-law, incorporated in amendments to the Water Act 1942, enabled SRWSC to control cultivation of land subject to drift near water channels. The Minister was a sponsor of the Soil Conservation Act 1940, which established the Soil Conservation Board (VA 1056). The Soil Conservation and Land Utilisation Act 1947 established the Land Utilisation Council to advise on land use in catchment areas and the Council included SRWSC representation. SRWSC also acted as the delegated authority of the Environment Protection Authority (VA 1058) from 1973 with respect to water pollution in rural areas, and had certain responsibilities relating to soil conservation.
Closer Settlement
The Closer Settlement Act 1912 transferred the control and administration of land suitable for settlement only under irrigation conditions or situated within an Irrigation and Water Supply District to the SRWSC from the Closer Settlement Board (VA 2266). SRWSC thus acquired the power to purchase, dispose and administer lands in accordance with the general provisions of the Closer Settlement Acts, subject to the decision of the Minister responsible for the Acts.
Under the provision of s.2 of the Discharged Soldier's Settlement Act 1917 the SRWSC was granted the control and administration of the settlement of returned servicemen and women on irrigable land.
The provisions of the Empire Settlement Act 1922 encouraged approved British immigrants to migrate to Australia for the purpose of land settlement or to augment the labour force. Subject to the Commonwealth and State Agreement of 1922, the SRWSC had responsibility for the control and administration of the settlement of assisted British immigrants on irrigable land.
In 1932 under the provisions of the Closer Settlement Act 1932 the newly appointed Closer Settlement Commission (VA 2268) assumed the powers and obligations of the SRWSC in respect of the settlement and occupation of irrigable lands.
In the post second World War period, closer settlement in irrigation areas was managed jointly by the SRWSC and the Soldier Settlement Commission (VA 2270) until 1962, then the Rural Finance and Settlement Commission (VA 2273) until 1977, then Rural Finance Commission (VA 1073) until 1988. The areas involved were the Murray Valley, Robinvale, Nambroh-Denison and Macalister. The work was undertaken by the SRWSC on behalf of the Soldier Settlement Commission under the provisions of the Soldier Settlement Act 1946, s.11(2).
Organisational Structure
Initially the SRWSC operated outside the public service. However, in 1939 following a Royal Commission in 1936, officers of the SRWSC were brought into the public service under the Public Service (Transfer of Officers) Act 1937. From 1939 the SRWSC was deemed to be the "Department of Water Supply" for the purposes of the Public Service Act, and its Chairman the permanent head of the Department. It should be noted that the "Department of Water Supply" in all other respects did not exist. This situation continued, even following the Water Resources Act 1975, which established a Ministry of Water Resources and Water Supply (VA 641). Thereafter until 1983 the Chairman was deemed to be the permanent head of the Ministry for the purposes of the Public Service Act.
Water Resources Council
The Council, established by the Water Resources Act 1975, advised the Minister on water resources, drainage and sewerage matters. All three State Rivers and Water Supply Commissioners were members of the Council.
Abolition
The SRWSC was abolished by the Water (Central Management Restructuring) Act 1984 (s.14) and its major powers, responsibilities and assets were passed to the Rural Water Commission (VA 2338) on 1 July 1984. Its responsibilities for rural water resource policy were taken on by the new Department of Water Resources (VA 2354). The Commissioners held their last meeting on 25 June 1984. Prior to its abolition, responsibility for oversight of local water and sewerage authorities had passed to the Ministry of Water Resources and Water Supply (VA 641) on 1 January 1984 under the Water and Sewerage Authorities (Restructuring) Act 1983. The restructuring followed a review by the Public Bodies Review Committee of Victoria's non-metropolitan water industry.
Jurisdiction: Victoria
