EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Christmas Island Act 1958
Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996
Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.1 of 2008
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.1 of 2008 (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 2007.
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 2008.
Approximate rates of increase in the various fees from the previous year are described below:
FIXED CHARGES FOR WATER
| | 2007/08
$ pa | 2008/09
$ pa | Increase
% |
1. | Residential | 162.60 | 180.50 | 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 | -8.1 |
| 25mm | 850.80 | 781.70 | -8.1 |
| 40mm | 2 178.00 | 2 001.00 | -8.1 |
| 50mm | 3 403.00 | 3 127.00 | -8.1 |
| 80mm | 8 712.00 | 8 005.00 | -8.1 |
| 100mm | 13 613.00 | 12 507.00 | -8.1 |
| 150mm | 30 628.00 | 28 142.00 | -8.1 |
3. | Institutional/Public, Charitable | Nil | Nil | 0.0 |
4. | Vacant land | 162.60 | 180.50 | 11.0 |
5. | Fire service | 162.60 | 180.50 | 11.0 |
FIXED CHARGES FOR SEWERAGE
| | 2007/08
$ pa | 2008/09
$ pa | Increase
% |
1. | Residential | 266.80 | 275.90 | 3.4 |
2. | Commercial, Industrial or Mining | 587.90 | 607.90 | 3.4 |
3. | Vacant Land | 175.60 | 181.60 | 3.4 |
4. | Institutional/Public and Charitable Purposes | 157.90 | 163.30 | 3.4 |
5. | Government | 877.80 | 907.65 | 3.4 |
WATER CONSUMPTION CHARGES
| | 2007/08
¢/kL | 2008/09
¢/kL | Increase
% |
1. | Residential or Vacant Land held for residential purposes | | | |
| 0 – 150kL | 56.9 | 64.3 | 13.0 |
| 151 – 500kL | 78.4 | 82.8 | 5.6 |
| 501 – 550kL | 104.3 | 98.4 | -5.7 |
| 551 – 650kL | 116.0 | 108.5 | -6.5 |
| 651 – 750kL | 190.3 | 173.2 | -9.0 |
| 751 – 1 150kL | 326.8 | 292.7 | -10.4 |
| 1 151 – 1 550kL | 531.0 | 513.4 | -3.3 |
| 1 551 – 1 950kL | 621.7 | 592.4 | -4.7 |
| Over 1 1950kL | 712.2 | 671.2 | -5.8 |
2. | Commercial, Industrial, Mining, Shipping, Institutional/Public (non-government schools, churches, community facilities etc), Charitable organisations, Local Government | | | |
| 0 – 300kL | 164.3 | 226.8 | 38.0 |
| Over 300kL | 314.1 | 335.3 | 6.7 |
3. | Commercial / Residential | | | |
| 0 – 150kL | 56.9 | 64.3 | 13.0 |
| 151 – 450kL | 164.3 | 226.8 | 38.0 |
| Over 450kL | 314.1 | 335.3 | 6.7 |
4. | Commonwealth Government | | | |
| 0 – 300kL | 164.3 | 226.8 | 38.0 |
| Over 300kL | 314.1 | 335.3 | 6.7 |
5. | Vacant land not mentioned in item 1 | | | |
| 0 – 300kL | 132.9 | 226.8 | 70.7 |
| Over 300kL | 132.9 | 335.3 | 152.3 |
BUILDING APPLICATION FEES
These fees are unchanged from 2007/08.
OTHER FEES
| | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | Increase |
1. | Relocation of service | Actual/quoted cost | Actual/quoted cost | N/A |
2. | Water service disconnection or reconnection | Actual/quoted cost | Actual/quoted cost | N/A |
3. | Special meter readings for change of ownership/tenancy | | | |
| Within 7 days | $13.25 | $13.70 | 3.4% |
| Within 2 days | $44.65 | $46.15 | 3.4% |
4. | Advice of sale requests | | | |
| Electronic advice – standard | $35.20 | $36.40 | 3.4% |
| Electronic advice – urgent | $66.50 | $68.75 | 3.4% |
| Manual advice – standard | $60.50 | $62.55 | 3.4% |
| Manual advice – urgent | $91.50 | $94.60 | 3.4% |
5. | Meter tests | | | |
| 20mm – 25mm meters | $85.00 | $88.00 | 3.5% |
| Over 25mm meters | Actual/quoted cost | Actual/quoted cost | N/A |
6. | Restoration of service after restriction | | | |
| Between 7:00am and 4:00pm any day except Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays | $114.00 | $118.00 | 3.5% |
| At any other time | $181.00 | $187.00 | 3.3% |
7. | Sewer connection charge | Actual/quoted cost | Actual/quoted cost | N/A |
8. | Installation of sewer junction | Actual/quoted cost | Actual/quoted cost | N/A |
Overview
The Christmas Island Act 1958, enacted by the Australian Parliament, aims to provide for the administration and governance of Christmas Island, including the regulation of utilities and services. This legislative framework was introduced to address the need for structured governance and the regulation of essential services on the island. Under the Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996, the Administrator is authorised to make provisions for the supply and use of utilities and services such as water and sewerage. The Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.1 of 2008 further operationalises this by setting fees for these services, aiming for parity with Western Australian prices where possible. The policy objective is to ensure that the fees charged on Christmas Island are comparable to those in Western Australia, thereby maintaining affordability and consistency for users. The Determination, which took effect on 1 July 2008, outlines the specific fees for water and sewerage services, along with various rates of increase from the previous year, to reflect these policy aims.
Scope and Application
The Christmas Island Act 1958, in conjunction with the Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996, governs the supply and use of utilities and services on Christmas Island, including water and sewerage services. The Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.1 of 2008, made under the Ordinance, sets the fees for these services and aims to maintain parity with the fees in Western Australia. The fees cover a range of categories including residential, commercial, industrial, mining, shipping, government, and vacant land, with specific rates for fixed charges, water consumption, and various service-related fees. The fees outlined in the Determination are effective from 1 July 2008, with some increases applied to residential and commercial fixed charges, while water consumption charges see varied increases and decreases across different consumption levels. Notably, the fees for building applications and some specific services like relocation of service and meter tests remain unchanged or are quoted at actual costs. This legislation applies to all entities and individuals utilising water and sewerage services on Christmas Island, with fees structured to accommodate a broad spectrum of users and service demands.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Determination of Fees for Water and Sewerage Services No.1 of 2008 establish the fees for water and wastewater services on Christmas Island. Section 3 of the Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996 (the Ordinance) allows the Administrator to set provisions for the supply and use of utilities and services, including water and drainage and sewerage. Section 4 of the Ordinance mandates that a fee must be imposed for the provision or use of these utilities and services. The Determination itself sets out the specific fees for water and sewerage services on the island, which are intended to mirror those in Western Australia as closely as possible. This ensures a parity in pricing between the Territory and Western Australia, with fees being considerably less than the cost of supply.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. The Administrator is responsible for setting fees for water and sewerage services, ensuring that these fees are reasonable and in line with the Government’s policy of parity with Western Australia. Consumers and businesses on Christmas Island must pay the set fees for the provision of water and sewerage services. The Administrator is also required to periodically review and adjust these fees, although consultation on these fees is not mandatory unless there are significant changes. The fees must be clearly communicated to the users, and the services must be provided efficiently and effectively.
There are no specific offences or penalties outlined in the Determination itself. However, breaches of related provisions under the Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996 may result in various civil or criminal consequences. For example, failure to pay the imposed fees could lead to legal action for debt recovery, and non-compliance with service provisions could result in penalties or sanctions. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Ordinance would depend on the specific nature of the breach and could include fines or other regulatory actions as deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities.