Christmas Island Water and Sewer Services Fees and Charges Determination No. 2 of 2009

Administered by Attorney-General's Department

Legislation au F2009L02622 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Christmas Island Act 1958

Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996

 

Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.2 of 2009

 

Section 3 of the Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996 (the Ordinance) authorises the Administrator to make provision for the supply and use of utilities and services in relation to, amongst other things, water and drainage and sewerage in the Territory.  Section 4 of the Ordinance provides that the Administrator is to impose a fee for the provision to a person, or the use by a person, of such utilities and services. 

The Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.2 of 2009 (the Determination) sets the fees for water and wastewater charges on Christmas Island and replaces the Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.1 of 2008.

It is Government policy that there should be parity between the prices in the Territory and those in Western Australia wherever possible.  The fees set in the Determination are substantially the same as those which apply in Western Australia and are considerably less than the cost of supply.  Accordingly, consultation on the fees was not undertaken. 

 

The Determination commences on 1 July 2009.

 

The rates of increase in the various fees from the previous year are described below:

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 1 – FIXED CHARGES FOR WATER

 

 

 

 

        

         2007/08

 

       2008/09

 

Proposed  2009/10

Percent Increase

1

Residential

         $162.60

       $180.50       

     $200.40                

11.0%

2

Commercial, Commercial / Residential, Industrial, Mining, Shipping, Government State,  Commonwealth or Local -

 

 

 

 

 

15 or 20mm meter or un-metered (minimum)

$544.50

       $500.30              

     $463.80              

-7.3%

 

25mm

$850.80

       $781.70                      

     $724.80               

-7.3%

 

40mm

$2,178.00

    $2,001.00            

  $1,855.00            

-7.3%

 

50mm

$3,403.00

    $3,127.00           

  $2,899.00            

-7.3%

 

80mm

$8,712.00

    $8,005.00            

  $7,422.00            

-7.3%

 

100mm

$13,613.00

   $12507.00          

$11,596.00          

-7.3%

 

150mm

$30,628.00

  $28,142.00          

    6,091.00          

-7.3%

3

Institutional/Public, Charitable

Nil

Nil

Nil

 

4

Vacant land

$162.60

       $180.50                

     $200.40               

11.0%

5

Fire service

$162.60

       $180.50               

     $200.40                

11.0%

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 2 – FIXED CHARGES FOR SEWERAGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Residential

$266.80

        $275.90           

      $287.50             

4.2%

2

Commercial, Industrial or Mining

$587.90

        $607.90                 

       $633.40                  

4.2%

3

Vacant Land

$175.60

        $181.60                  

       $189.20               

4.2%

4

Institutional/Public and Charitable Purposes

$157.90

        $163.30               

       $170.20               

4.2%

5

Government

$877.80

        $907.65          

       $945.75              

4.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 3 – WATER CONSUMPTION CHARGES

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Residential or Vacant Land held for residential purposes

cents/kL

cents/kL

cents/kL

 

 

0 – 150kL

56.9

64.3

72.6

12.9%

 

151 - 500kL

78.4

82.8

88.0

6.3%

 

501 - 550kL

104.3

98.4

124.7

26.7%

 

551 - 650kL

116

108.5

133.1

22.7%

 

651 - 750kL

190.3

173.2

186.4

7.6%

 

751 - 1150kL

326.8

292.7

325.8

11.3%

 

1151 - 1550kL

531

513.4

524.5

2.2%

 

1551 - 1950kL

621.7

592.4

589.5

-0.5%

 

Over 1950kL

712.2

671.2

654.4

-2.5%

2

Commercial, Industrial, Mining, Shipping, Vacant land not mentioned in item 1, or Local Government

 

 

 

 

 

0 – 300kL

164.3

226.8

255.5

12.7%

 

over 300kL

314.1

335.3

349.4

4.2%

3

Commercial/Residential

 

 

 

 

 

0 – 150kL

56.9

64.3

72.6

12.9%

 

151 – 450kL

164.3

226.8

255.5

12.7%

 

over 450kL

314.1

335.3

349.4

4.2%

4

Government Commonwealth

 

 

 

 

 

0 – 300kL

164.3

226.8

255.5

12.7%

 

over 300kL

314.1

335.3

349.4

4.2%

5

Institutional/Public (non-government schools, churches, community facilities etc), Charitable purposes

 

 

 

 

 

0 – 300kL

 

 

          119.7

 

                                    

New Rate

 

over 300kL

 

 

          176.8                

 

New Rate

SCHEDULE 4 – BUILDING APPLICATION FEES

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

Building plans to construct a new residential building or alter an existing residential building (charge is for each residential unit).

$106.00

$106.00

$106.00

0.0%

2

Minor building fee for approval of an outbuilding to a single residential property, includes pools, garages and pergolas (in sewered areas only).

$31.00

$31.00

$31.00

0.0%

3

Building plans for multi-residential units

$106.00/unit

$106.00/unit

$106.00/unit

 

4

Building plans for other than residential and multi-residential units (construct new building/alter existing building) at a cost of —

 

 

 

 

 

Up to $22,500 (sewered area only)

$25.00

$25.00

$25.00

0.0%

 

Over $22,500 but not over $200,000

$85.00

$85.00

$85.00

0.0%

 

$200,001 but not over $500,000

$330.00

$330.00

$330.00

0.0%

 

$500,001 but not over $1,000,000

$550.00

$550.00

$550.00

0.0%

 

And where the cost exceeds $1,000,000 —

 

 

 

 

 

First $10,000,000

$0.90 per $’000

$0.90 per $’000

$0.90 per $’000

 

 

Over $10,000,000

$9,000.00 plus $0.25 per $’000 Over $10,000,000

$9,000.00 plus $0.25 per $’000 Over $10,000,000

$9,000.00 plus $0.25 per $’000 Over $10,000,000

 

SCHEDULE 5 – OTHER FEES

 

1

Relocation of service

Actual/quoted cost

Actual/quoted cost

Actual/quoted cost

 

2

Water service  disconnection or reconnection

Actual/quoted cost

Actual/quoted cost

Actual/quoted cost

 

3

Special meter readings for change of ownership/tenancy -

 

 

 

 

 

Within 7 days

$13.25

           $13.70                  

$14.30                    

4.4%

 

Within 2 days

$44.65

           $46.15        

$48.10                   

4.2%

4

Advice of Sale Requests —

 

 

 

 

 

Electronic advice – standard

$35.20

           $36.40              

$ 37.95                   

4.3%

 

Electronic advice – urgent

$66.50

           $68.75                 

$71.65                    

4.2%

 

Manual advice – standard

$60.50

           $62.55                

$ 65.20                   

4.2%

 

Manual advice – urgent

$91.50

          $94.60          

$98.55                    

4.2%

5

Meter Tests -

 

 

 

 

 

20mm to 25mm meters

$85.00

         $88.00             

$91.50                   

4.0%

 

Over 25mm meters

Actual quoted cost

Actual quoted cost

Actual quoted cost

 

6

Restoration of service after restriction between 7:00am and 4:00pm any day except Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays

$114.00

  $118.00                

$123.00                  

4.2%

Any Other time

$181.00

  $187.00                

$195.00                  

4.3%

7

Sewer Connection Charge

Actual/quoted cost

Actual/quoted cost

Actual/quoted cost

 

8

Installation of Sewer Junction

Actual/quoted cost

Actual/quoted cost

Actual/quoted cost

 

9

Discount

$1.50

$1.50

$1.50

 

10

Discount interest rate

4.91%

5.36%

2.46%

 

11

Instalment Charge

$3.00

$3.00

$3.00

 

12

Instalment charge interest rate

5.91%

6.36%

3.46%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

The Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.2 of 2009 was enacted to set the fees for water and wastewater charges on Christmas Island, thereby replacing the Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.1 of 2008. This legislation is an instrument under the Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996, which empowers the Administrator to make provision for the supply and use of utilities and services, including water and drainage and sewerage. The objective of this legislation is to establish fees that are in parity with those in Western Australia wherever possible, ensuring that the fees set are substantially the same as those which apply in Western Australia and are considerably less than the cost of supply. Given this alignment, consultation on the fees was not deemed necessary. The legislation commenced on 1 July 2009 and includes provisions for various types of charges, such as fixed charges for water and sewerage, water consumption charges, building application fees, and other fees including relocation of service, disconnection or reconnection of water service, meter tests, and advice of sale requests.

Scope and Application

The Christmas Island Act 1958, as amended by the Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996, governs the supply and use of utilities and services, including water and drainage and sewerage, on Christmas Island. Under this legislative framework, the Administrator is empowered to set fees for the provision and use of these services. The Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.2 of 2009 specifically sets out the fees applicable to water and wastewater charges on Christmas Island, effective from 1 July 2009. This Determination aims to maintain parity between the prices on Christmas Island and those in Western Australia, and the fees are set below the cost of supply. The Determination details various fees including fixed charges for water and sewerage, water consumption charges, building application fees, and other related fees. These fees are categorised based on the type of user, such as residential, commercial, industrial, and government entities, with different rates applied to various consumption levels and services. The rates are adjusted annually, and the Determination includes specific percentage increases for different categories, aiming to align closely with Western Australian prices. The Act and its subordinate instruments cover all entities and individuals utilising water and sewerage services on Christmas Island, ensuring a structured and equitable fee system for utility services in the territory.

Key Provisions

The Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.2 of 2009 (the Determination) sets the fees for water and wastewater charges on Christmas Island. These fees are established under the Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996 (the Ordinance) and commence on 1 July 2009. The Ordinance authorises the Administrator to make provision for the supply and use of utilities and services in relation to water and drainage and sewerage (section 3). Section 4 of the Ordinance requires the Administrator to impose a fee for the provision to a person or the use by a person of such utilities and services. The fees are structured in various schedules. Schedule 1 outlines fixed charges for water, including residential, commercial, industrial, and other categories. Schedule 2 details fixed charges for sewerage, again categorised by residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and government use. Schedule 3 specifies water consumption charges, which vary based on the volume of water used and the type of user (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.). Schedule 4 provides fees for building applications, including plans for new or altered residential buildings and other types of buildings. Lastly, Schedule 5 includes fees for services such as relocation of services, disconnection or reconnection of water services, meter readings, advice of sale requests, meter tests, restoration of service, sewer connection charges, installation of sewer junctions, and discounts. The Determination imposes obligations on users to pay the fees as set out in the schedules. Users must ensure that they comply with the fee structures, which vary according to the type and volume of service used. For example, residential users will pay a different fee than commercial users, and the fees for water consumption vary depending on the volume consumed. The fees are designed to ensure the sustainability and affordability of water and sewerage services on Christmas Island. There are no specific offences, penalties, or consequences outlined in the Determination itself. However, failure to comply with the payment of fees as required by the Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996 may result in civil or criminal consequences, as per the provisions of that Ordinance. The Ordinance would need to be consulted for details on the penalties for non-compliance, which could include fines or other legal actions.

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