❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding Water Corporation water charges for commercial properties in Carnarvon, including costs, payment plans, infrastructure decommissioning, supply restrictions, legal action, and concessions. The response provides data on customer numbers, average and highest costs, payment plan usage, and legal actions, while also addressing concessions and comparative analysis.
AnsweredQoN 5317Legislative Assembly
Asked
6 August 2019
Member
Portfolio
Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Water Corporation water charges on commercial properties in the Carnarvon local government area, and I ask: (a) How many commercial customers are connected to the Carnarvon scheme; (b) What is the average annual water charge costs for commercial customers; (c) What was/is the highest annual cost to a commercial customer in the area in: (i) 2016-17; (ii) 2017-18; and (iii) 2018 to present date; (d) How many commercial properties have entered payment plans for the above periods; (e) How many commercial properties have de-commissioned infrastructure to reduce fixed sewage costs for the above periods; (f) How many properties have had supply restrictions placed on them and what was/is the average length of restrictions in: (i) 2016-17; (ii) 2017-18; and (iii) 2018 to present date; (g) Of these properties how many have entered payment plans and what is the average length of payment plans for the above periods; (h) How many will remain on payment plans in the year 2019-20; (i) How many customers have been pursued through legal means over non-payment of bills; (j) Describe any other concessions Water Corporation has offered to regional commercial customers impacted by higher water charges to ensure they are not disadvantaged and placed in an unsustainable and non-competitive position; (k) If no concessions offered in (j), what impact analysis is being undertaken by Water Corporation in relation to the sustainability of regional commercial customers to be able to continue to pay much higher rates for water; and (l) What comparative analysis is being undertaken by Water Corporation in relation to the sustainability of regional commercial customers versus metro commercial customers?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 September 2019
Responded by
Minister for Water; Fisheries; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science
Response time
13 days
(a) 341.
(b) In 2018-19, the average cost (that is water charges) per non-residential customer in the Carnarvon Town Water Scheme was $5,420.05.
(c) Highest annual cost (water service and usage bill)
(i) 2016-17 $111,714.79
(ii) 2017-18 $251,926.20
(iii) 2018-19 $178,654.06
(d) How many commercial properties have entered payment plans for the above periods?
(i) 2016-17 42
(ii) 2017-18 21
(iii) 2018-19 37
(e) How many commercial properties have de-commissioned infrastructure to reduce fixed sewage costs for the above periods
(i) 2016-17 0
(ii) 2017-18 0
(iii) 2018-19 0
(f) Our system is unable to provide a verified answer on the length of the restriction. Our standard practice is 14 days for the length of a restriction
(i) 2016-17 1
(ii) 2017-18 0
(iii) 2018-19 0
(g)
(i) 2016-17 0
(ii) 2017-18 0
(iii) 2018-19 0
(h) 0
(i) Customers pursued through legal means over non-payment of bills in
(i) 2016-17 1
(ii) 2017-18 2
(iii) 2018-19 0
(j) Concessional Land customers are provided with concessions on their water and wastewater charges – this applies to eligible non-residential customers as defined by the Water Services (Water Corporations Charges) Regulations 2014. This includes local government, charities, religious bodies, not-for-profits etc. Regional concessions provided for regional Concessional Land customers are more generous than for the metropolitan area.
(k) n/a
Non-residential wastewater charges are state-wide uniform.
(l) The Water Corporation does not have access to the individual financial position of customers to enable an analysis of sustainability.
(b) In 2018-19, the average cost (that is water charges) per non-residential customer in the Carnarvon Town Water Scheme was $5,420.05.
(c) Highest annual cost (water service and usage bill)
(i) 2016-17 $111,714.79
(ii) 2017-18 $251,926.20
(iii) 2018-19 $178,654.06
(d) How many commercial properties have entered payment plans for the above periods?
(i) 2016-17 42
(ii) 2017-18 21
(iii) 2018-19 37
(e) How many commercial properties have de-commissioned infrastructure to reduce fixed sewage costs for the above periods
(i) 2016-17 0
(ii) 2017-18 0
(iii) 2018-19 0
(f) Our system is unable to provide a verified answer on the length of the restriction. Our standard practice is 14 days for the length of a restriction
(i) 2016-17 1
(ii) 2017-18 0
(iii) 2018-19 0
(g)
(i) 2016-17 0
(ii) 2017-18 0
(iii) 2018-19 0
(h) 0
(i) Customers pursued through legal means over non-payment of bills in
(i) 2016-17 1
(ii) 2017-18 2
(iii) 2018-19 0
(j) Concessional Land customers are provided with concessions on their water and wastewater charges – this applies to eligible non-residential customers as defined by the Water Services (Water Corporations Charges) Regulations 2014. This includes local government, charities, religious bodies, not-for-profits etc. Regional concessions provided for regional Concessional Land customers are more generous than for the metropolitan area.
(k) n/a
Non-residential wastewater charges are state-wide uniform.
(l) The Water Corporation does not have access to the individual financial position of customers to enable an analysis of sustainability.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.