Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations (Amendment) (ACT)

The matter before the court involved the validity of certain amendments to the Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations 1985. The amendments were made under the Building and Services Ordinance 1924. The parties involved were the Minister of State for Territories, Gordon Gordon Denton Scholes, who made the amendments, and several interested parties who challenged the validity of these amendments. The court was tasked with determining whether the amendments were within the scope of the authority granted under the Building and Services Ordinance 1924.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the amendments to the Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations were authorised by the Building and Services Ordinance 1924. Specifically, the court had to examine if the amendments related directly to sewerage and water supply systems and whether they were reasonably necessary for the administration and regulation of these systems in the Australian Capital Territory. Additionally, the court needed to consider whether the amendments were consistent with the overall objectives of the Building and Services Ordinance 1924.

The court reviewed the legislative framework and found that the amendments were within the scope of the authority granted under the Building and Services Ordinance 1924. The amendments were deemed necessary for the effective regulation and management of sewerage and water supply systems. The court held that the amendments related to the prevention of damage to sewers, the regulation of drainage from stables, the management of motor vehicle and industrial plant washing areas, and the protection of Commonwealth property. The court concluded that these amendments were reasonably necessary and consistent with the overall objectives of the Ordinance, thus upholding the validity of the amendments.