QUEENSLAND GRANT (CLARE WEIR) ACT
1974
No. 123 of 1974
An Act to grant Financial Assistance to Queensland in connexion with the Construction of a Weir on the Burdekin River near Clare.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:—
Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the Queensland Grant (Clare Weir) Act 1974.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Definition.
3. In this Act, “State” means Queensland.
Grant of financial assistance.
4. (1) Subject to this Act, there are payable to the State, by way of financial assistance, amounts necessary to reimburse the State in respect of moneys expended by the State, after the commencement of this Act, in carrying out the works, and doing the other things, referred to in the Schedule.
(2) The amounts paid to the State under this Act shall not exceed, in the aggregate, $3,000,000.
Power of Minister to vary description of work.
5. Upon request by the State, the Minister may, from time to time, direct in writing that this Act have effect in relation to a work referred to in the Schedule as if the description in that Schedule of that work were varied in such manner as the Minister specifies in the direction.
State to carry out irrigation and other works.
6. The State is not entitled to financial assistance under this Act unless the Minister is satisfied that reasonable progress has been made by the State in carrying out irrigation and other works for the purpose of using the water made available by the construction of the weir referred to in the Schedule.
Provision relating to carrying out of work.
7. The State is not entitled to financial assistance under this Act in relation to expenditure by the State in carrying out a particular work—
(a) Where the Minister has requested the State to furnish information in relation to the design or construction of the work—unless the State has duly furnished that information;
(b) Unless the Minister is satisfied that the design and construction of the work are in accordance with the purposes for which the work was proposed by the State; and
(c) Where the expenditure was incurred under a contract providing for the expenditure of more than $200,000—unless the contract was entered into with the approval of the Minister.
Information to be furnished by State in relation to expenditure.
8. The State is not entitled to financial assistance under this Act in relation to particular expenditure by the State unless the State has furnished to the Treasurer—
(a) a statement in respect of that expenditure in accordance with a form approved by the Treasurer, accompanied by a certificate of the Auditor-General of the State certifying that, in his opinion, the expenditure shown in the statement was incurred in carrying out works, or doing other things, referred to in the Schedule; and
(b) Such further information, if any, as the Treasurer requires in respect of that expenditure.
Advances.
9. The Treasurer may, at such times as he thinks fit, make advances of such amounts as he thinks fit to the State on account of an amount that may become payable under this Act to the State.
Overpayments.
10. Payment to the State under this Act of any amount (including an advance) is subject to the condition that the State will repay to Australia, on demand by the Treasurer, the amount by which, at the time of the demand, the total of the amounts (including advances) paid to the State under this Act exceeds the total of the amounts that have become payable to the State under section 4.
Appropriation
11. Amounts payable to the State under this Act are payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly.
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SCHEDULE Section 4
MATTERS IN RESPECT OF WHICH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS GRANTED
1. The construction of a weir on the Burdekin River near Clare of sufficient height to store approximately 15,500 megalitres of water.
2. The construction of outlet works in connexion with the weir.
3. The construction of access roads to the weir site.
4. The relocation of roads and other services that may be affected by the construction of the weir and by the storage of water by the weir.
5. The clearing of timber from the area to be covered by the water to be stored by the weir.
6. The carrying out of works incidental to any of the works referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this Schedule.
7. The establishment of construction camps required in connexion with the carrying out of any of the works referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this Schedule and the provision of services necessary for those camps, including the construction of roads and the provision of power, water, sewerage and telecommunication facilities.
8. The acquisition of land that is required for the carrying out of any of the works referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this Schedule or may be affected by any of those works.