Schedule of charges 2019/2020 Irrigation Season (2)

Overview

The Schedule of Charges – 2019/2020 Irrigation Season, as outlined in the Gazette (C2020G00174), was introduced to regulate the fees associated with water management for irrigation purposes. This legislative instrument was enacted by the relevant governing body responsible for water resource management in Australia, aiming to ensure a structured and transparent approach to the administration of water charges for the irrigation season. The policy objective of this legislation is to establish clear guidelines for fixed and variable charges, thereby facilitating efficient and fair water usage among irrigators. The fixed charges encompass administration costs, delivery rights for introduced water, and specific fees for measuring devices, while the variable charges account for MPID delivery, losses, and government fees. Additionally, the document outlines costs associated with external transfer seasonal allocation, transformation, disconnection, and termination fees, excluding the Government Access Charge from termination fee calculations. This comprehensive schedule of charges is designed to address the financial aspects of water management, ensuring that all stakeholders are aware of the applicable fees for the irrigation season.

Scope and Application

The Schedule of Charges outlined in the 2019/2020 Irrigation Season Act applies to entities and individuals involved in the water usage and irrigation sectors, particularly those holding water rights or utilising introduced water during the specified season. The Act encompasses both fixed and variable charges, covering administration, delivery rights, works charges, and transformation costs, thereby imposing financial obligations on water users to cover operational and infrastructural expenses. The geographic reach of this legislation is primarily within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, ensuring uniformity in water charge application across the nation. The Act does not explicitly state exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but it does outline specific charges for different types of measuring devices and water usage categories. The application of these charges may be further defined or modified through subordinate instruments, which could provide additional details or adjustments to the specified fees.

Key Provisions

The legislation sets out specific charges for the 2019/2020 irrigation season, detailing both fixed and variable costs (Schedule of charges, s 2). Fixed charges include an administration fee of $20.50 million, a permanent water delivery rights fee of $118 million for in-season introduced water, and annual fees for stock and domestic access of $300. Additionally, there are fixed charges for works, including small and large measuring devices, priced at $2,500 and $4,000 respectively, inclusive of installation. Variable charges include an MPID delivery fee of $22 million, a losses charge of $0.81 million, and government charges of $4.69 million to $5.50 million. For external transfer seasonal allocation, there is an MPID administration fee of $90, a processing fee of $8 million plus government charges, and transformation charges that include an administration fee of $300 and a disconnection charge of $250. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved. For instance, it mandates the payment of fixed and variable charges as outlined in the schedule. It also requires compliance with the installation and maintenance of measuring devices, with associated costs for both small and large devices. Additionally, it stipulates that parties must account for and pay for any losses in the system and adhere to the government charges specified. The Act further requires adherence to external transfer seasonal allocation fees, including those for MPID administration and processing. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act can result in various consequences. While specific offences and penalties are not detailed in the provided text, it can be inferred that non-payment of charges or failure to meet installation and maintenance requirements could lead to financial penalties, legal action, or other administrative measures. Additionally, any breaches of the specified charges or obligations could result in financial liabilities and possibly additional fees for non-compliance. Given the structured nature of the charges and obligations, breaches might also attract fines or other administrative sanctions as per the general legal framework governing similar legislation.