 |
| Urban Water and Sewerage Reform Urban Water Policy Unit
Licensing Framework
National Policies
Customer Complaints
Further Information
The Water and Sewerage Industry Act and the Water and Sewerage Corporations Act (available on the Tasmanian Legislation website www.thelaw.tas.gov.au ) were passed by the Tasmanian Parliament in 2008.
This legislation has removed the responsibility for water and sewerage provision from local Councils and divested it in three new regionally based Corporations. A fourth common services entity was created to service these regional Corporations. The Corporations began operation on 1 July 2009 and will be independently run, but owned by local Councils.
As well as the new organisational structure, the legislation has installed a new regulatory regime, with the creation of the Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator. From 2012, the Economic Regulator will be responsible for price and service regulation in the sector, ensuring Tasmanians pay a regulated price for sustainable water and sewerage services which meet appropriate industry standards. In the interim, the Treasurer is responsible for setting prices and service standards.
The Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 also creates a role for the Tasmanian Ombudsman, to investigate customer complaints about the new Corporations and to promote fairness, openness and good public administration in the sector.
Under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994, the Director of the Environment Protection Authority is responsible for environmental regulation. The Director of Public Health is responsible for the protection of public health under the Public Health Act 1997. Although Environmental and Public Health regulation of drinking water and sewerage services remains largely the same, the Economic Regulator will ensure that the capacity of the Corporations to raise revenue will be linked to attaining regulatory compliance and minimum service standards.
These reforms have been designed to achieve major long-term improvements in Tasmania’s water and sewerage services and infrastructure, through a collaborative approach with local Government.
For more information on the Regulators and their roles in the sector, please see the relevant links below:
 Office of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator: www.economicregulator.tas.gov.au
Environment Protection Authority: www.epa.tas.gov.au
Public Health: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au  |
The Minister for Primary Industries and Water is responsible for administering the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008. The Minister is further responsible under this Act for developing and coordinating policies related to the regulation of the water and sewerage industry.
The Urban Water Policy Unit has been created within the Department to assist the Minister in carrying out these functions under the legislation.
Contact: Urban Water EnquiriesUrban Water Enquiries
GPO Box 44
1 Franklin Wharf
Hobart TAS 7000
Phone: (03) 6233 6753
Email: urban.water@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
The Minister has granted Interim Licences to the new water and sewerage Corporations and an Exemption Order under the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008. See Interim Licensing Framework for more information.
For further information on national water reform, please see the following websites:
Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts: www.environment.gov.au
National Water Commission: www.nwc.gov.au
If you have a complaint about your water and sewerage service that you have been unable to resolve with the water and sewerage Corporation servicing your area, please contact the Tasmanian Ombudsman:
Contact: OmbudsmanOmbudsman
Office of the Ombudsman
GPO Box 960
Hobart TAS 7001
Phone: 1300 766 725
Fax: 03 6233 8966
Email: ombudsman@justice.tas.gov.au
For further information about the Ombudsman and his/her role, please visit the website: www.ombusman.tas.gov.au
For access to the Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008, the Water and Sewerage Corporations Act 2008 or any other Tasmanian legislation, please go to:
www.thelaw.tas.gov.au
For further information on the water and sewerage Corporations please go to the following website: www.mywatertas.com.au
For information on interim pricing arrangements in the sector please go to the Department of Treasury and Finance’s website: www.treasury.tas.gov.au
| |
