Water industry services
The Department of Water provides the Minister for Water Resources with assessment, planning and water resources management advice through its Water Services Planning Branch. The Branch commenced operations on July 1 2005, continuing the functions formerly undertaken by the Office of Water Policy.
The Department provides advice to the Minister in order to support the Minister's role in setting licensing policy and regulations for water service providers, which are administered by the Economic Regulation Authority. The Minister is also responsible for issuing pricing references on water matters to the ERA.
We provide the Minister with advice in relation to setting the by-laws that control water prices charged by providers and assists the Minister in the development of water industry policy. Key areas include competition and industry structure policy and meeting Western Australia's obligations under the National Competition Policy Agreement.
We also provide support to the Minister in meeting the obligations of existing legislation. These obligations include the approval of major works such as water tanks and mains, the approval of prices set in by-laws and the appointment of members to the regional water boards.
The Department of Water supports the Minister's responsibilities in the following areas:
- Water services licensing policy and the regulations independently administered by the Economic Regulation Authority
- Water industry competition and strategic structural reform
- Industry structure and competition strategies
- Sustainable water services and planning
- Leadership and coordination of aspects of strategic and high level water industry planning
- Equity issues, such as uniform pricing and Community Service Obligations
- Water services policy inputs into regional development
- Efficiency in water services through pricing and licensing
- Research and review of global trends and developments in strategic water industry policy and planning
- Sponsoring research and development in the water industry.
