Water charge rules for water planning and management charges, position paper—January 2009

Consistent with Part 4 of the Water Act 2007, the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, has written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) requesting advice on water charge rules.

As part of preparing its advice, the ACCC has released a position paper outlining the proposed approach to developing water charge rules relating to charges for water planning and water management activities.

The approach proposed by the ACCC recommends the development of enforceable rules and model rules. It focuses on improving transparency of water planning and management charges and increasing information available on the associated activities and costs, and the proportion of costs recovered from water users.

A copy of the position paper, which includes details on how to make a submission, is available from the ACCC website: www.accc.gov.au. For general inquiries, contact the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502.

Submissions to the position paper must be provided to the ACCC by 5:00 pm Friday, 27 February 2009.