Schedule of charges 2017/2018 Irrigation Season (Moira Private Irrigation District)

Overview

The Irrigation Charges (Schedule of Charges for 2017/2018 Irrigation Season) Determination 2018 was enacted to outline the fees associated with irrigation activities during the specified season, ensuring a transparent and structured approach to financial obligations for water usage. This determination was introduced to address the need for clearly defined charges for both fixed and variable costs, thus providing certainty for stakeholders involved in irrigation activities. The determination was made under the authority of the relevant legislature, aiming to facilitate orderly and efficient management of water resources while ensuring that the costs are equitably distributed among users. The policy objective of this legislation is to establish a clear and consistent framework for charging irrigation users, which includes both fixed charges for administration, delivery rights, and works, as well as variable charges that account for operational and transformation costs. By specifying these charges, the determination seeks to support sustainable water management practices while ensuring that the financial burden on users is transparent and justifiable.

Scope and Application

The Schedule of Charges for the 2017/2018 Irrigation Season, as detailed in C2018G00029 (Gazette), outlines various fees applicable to water users and related entities within the irrigation sector. This legislation applies to individuals and entities involved in the use of introduced water within the specified season, including farmers, agribusinesses, and other water users in the irrigation industry. The charges are set by the governing body to cover operating costs, delivery rights, and infrastructure maintenance, among other things. The geographic scope of this legislation encompasses the Commonwealth, ensuring uniformity in water usage charges across the country. While the act does not specify exclusions or exemptions, it does detail specific charges for different types of water usage and infrastructure, such as fixed charges for administration, delivery rights, and measuring devices, as well as variable charges based on usage and losses. The legislation also provides for the application of these charges through subordinate instruments, ensuring that the implementation is comprehensive and enforceable.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of this legislation (Schedule of charges - 2017/2018 Irrigation Season) set forth the financial obligations for the irrigation season in question. Section 1 outlines the fixed charges, which include an administrative operating cost of $17.5 million and a delivery right fee for permanent water introduced during the season, amounting to $118 million. Additionally, there is a stock and domestic access fee of $300 per annum, along with installation costs for small and large measuring devices at $2,500 and $4,000 respectively. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved, primarily concerning financial contributions. Water users must pay the fixed and variable charges as stipulated. This includes the MPID delivery fee of $20 million, losses charge of $0.96 million, and government charges of $4.54 million, which together total $25.5 million. For external transfer seasonal allocations, users must pay an MPID administration fee of $90, a processing fee of $8 million plus government charges, and transformation charges of $300. There is also a disconnection charge of $250 and a termination fee of $11.80 per megalitre over a ten-year period, which amounts to $118 per megalitre. Importantly, the government access charge is not included in these termination fee calculations. The legislation also establishes clear consequences for non-compliance. Breaches of the financial obligations outlined in the Act may result in civil or criminal penalties. The maximum penalties for such breaches are not explicitly stated in the provided text, but they would typically be determined by the relevant legal framework governing administrative and financial compliance in Australia. Failure to meet these financial obligations could lead to enforcement actions, fines, or other legal repercussions, depending on the severity and nature of the breach.