Schedule of charges 2014/2015 Irrigation Season (Moira Private Irrigation District)

Overview

The Schedule of Charges 2014/2015 Irrigation Season Act 2014 was enacted to establish and regulate the charges for irrigation services for the 2014/2015 season in Australia. This Act was introduced by the Australian Parliament to address the need for a transparent and structured framework for setting charges related to irrigation services, ensuring that users are aware of the costs involved in accessing water resources. The policy objective is to provide clarity and fairness in the pricing structure, ensuring that the costs associated with the provision of water services are accurately reflected and fairly distributed among users. This legislation sets out the fixed and variable charges for irrigation services, including membership levies, operating costs, delivery rights for introduced water, works charges, transformation charges, and a termination fee. The charges are designed to cover the operating costs and other expenses related to the provision of irrigation services, ensuring that the water infrastructure is maintained and managed effectively. The Act aims to provide a stable financial basis for the provision of irrigation services while also promoting efficient water use and management practices.

Scope and Application

The Schedule of Charges 2014/2015 Irrigation Season applies to entities and individuals involved in the irrigation sector during the specified financial year. This includes irrigation water users who have membership rights, those who are responsible for paying levies and charges associated with water usage, and those who may incur costs related to electricity connections, measuring devices, and delivery of water. The charges are applicable to all relevant parties within the jurisdiction of the legislation, which extends to the Commonwealth, state, and territory levels. The legislation sets out specific fixed and variable charges for water usage, connection fees, and other associated costs, with particular emphasis on the delivery rights for introduced water and the corresponding charges. Notably, the termination fee is calculated over a ten-year period and does not include the government access charge, which is payable separately. Additionally, the delivery rights charge for introduced water is only applicable in the season in which the water is introduced. This legislation does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions, but the charges are clearly delineated, providing a structured financial framework for the irrigation industry during the specified season.

Key Provisions

The main provisions of the legislation (Schedule of Charges 2014/2015 Irrigation Season) include both fixed and variable charges for irrigation services (Section 2). Fixed charges include a membership levy and operating costs amounting to $15.50 million, electricity connection charges of $0.50 million, and specific fees for delivery rights and stock and domestic access, which are $118.00 million and $300 per annum, respectively. Variable charges are also stipulated, such as the MPID delivery fee at $21.00 million, a government usage charge of $7.85 million, and losses factor charges of $1.15 million, summing up to $30.00 million. Additionally, transformation charges cover administration at $300.00 million and disconnection charges of $250.00 million. The Act imposes various obligations on the parties involved, primarily those who use the irrigation services (Sections 2 and 3). These obligations include the payment of the specified fixed and variable charges, adherence to the schedule of charges, and compliance with the conditions set forth for the delivery rights and stock and domestic access. The charges are structured to cover operating costs, connection fees, and the costs associated with the transformation and administration of irrigation services. Furthermore, users are required to pay a termination fee of $11.80 per megalitre over a period of ten years, amounting to $118.90 per megalitre, which does not include the government access charge. The legislation outlines several consequences for non-compliance or breach of its provisions (Section 4). While the Act does not explicitly mention specific offences, penalties, or criminal consequences, it does indicate that failure to adhere to the payment schedule and conditions set forth could result in legal actions or financial penalties. The precise nature of these consequences would be determined by the governing authorities and the terms of any contractual agreements between the service providers and the users. The penalties could potentially include fines or legal action for non-payment of the specified charges.