Achieving cost recovery is a major part of maintaining good water planning and management practices across our state.
The Department of Water manages Western Australia's water resources. We provide many goods and services - from issuing licences for commercial water users to take water, to drainage assessments for new suburban developments.
ERA inquiry into water management and planning charges
The Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) is doing an inquiry into possible water resource management and planning charges. The Treasurer of Western Australia set the terms of reference for the inquiry.
The inquiry is looking at the possibility of charging for our service. As part of the inquiry we provide information on our business functions, activities and costs to the ERA, as required.
Our activities throughout the inquiry are as follows:
| June 2009 |
respond to the ERA's issues paper |
| August 2009 |
participate in the ERA's roundtable discussion |
| August 2009 |
respond to the ERA's principles paper |
| October 2009 |
respond to the ERA's draft report |
| January 2010 |
participate in the government response to the final report |
Our comprehensive submissions are available on our website under 'Publications' and from the ERA website www.era.wa.gov.au.
Next steps
Once the ERA has completed its final report, the government will make a decision as to what extent, and how, cost recovery will be implemented.
The Department of Water does not have the statutory authority to implement cost recovery without the appropriate government and parliamentary approval processes.
If you would like to be on our mailing list to receive updates on our progress with the above please email costrecovery@water.wa.gov.au.
For more information on the ERA and the inquiry, see www.era.wa.gov.au.