ACCC provides final advice for water planning and management charge rules

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has submitted its final advice on water planning and management charge rules to the Minister for Climate Change and Water.

The ACCC has provided draft Water Charge (Planning and Management Information) Rules with the advice.  The proposed rules require state government departments and agencies to publish details of water planning and management charges.

The ACCC is also proposing to establish a voluntary reporting framework to report more broadly on water planning and water management activities, costs and charges.

The Minister had written to the ACCC requesting advice on the water planning and management charge rules under s93(1) of the Water Act 2007.

The ACCC conducted extensive stakeholder consultation in forming its advice. This included an issues paper, position paper and draft advice, accompanied by draft rules. The ACCC also met with agencies responsible for undertaking water planning and water management activities and/or charging for these activities across the Murray Darling Basin.

In preparing its advice the ACCC has considered the requirements of the Water Act including the Basin water charging objectives and principles, concerns raised during stakeholder consultation and the current institutional and cost recovery arrangements of Basin states.

The Minister may adopt the ACCC's draft rules, with or without variation.  If the Minister intends to proceed with implementing the ACCC's advice and recommended rules, she is required to publish a notice on the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts' website which includes a copy of the proposed rules and a copy of the advice provided by the ACCC at least four weeks before the proposed rules are made.