❓ Mr. Love questions the Minister for Water about unpaid water bills at Nicheliving developments, specifically a $132,000 bill disputed by Willetton strata residents. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines the technicalities involved, highlighting Nicheliving's poor behaviour.
AnsweredQoN 511Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
NICHELIVING —
UNPAID WATER BILLS
511. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Water:
I refer to revelations on the ABC
mornings program last Friday about unpaid water bills at several Nicheliving developments, including one bill worth $132 000
that was issued by the Water Corporation against a Willetton strata for
water used by Nicheliving during construction.
(1) Is the minister aware that these large bills are
being disputed by strata residents, who insist that N icheliving is
responsible for the water usage; and, if so, what actions is the minister
taking to ensure that these bills are directed at those responsible?
(2) Has the minister sought details
on the quantum of any such unpaid water bills?
UNPAID WATER BILLS
511. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Water:
I refer to revelations on the ABC
mornings program last Friday about unpaid water bills at several Nicheliving developments, including one bill worth $132 000
that was issued by the Water Corporation against a Willetton strata for
water used by Nicheliving during construction.
(1) Is the minister aware that these large bills are
being disputed by strata residents, who insist that N icheliving is
responsible for the water usage; and, if so, what actions is the minister
taking to ensure that these bills are directed at those responsible?
(2) Has the minister sought details
on the quantum of any such unpaid water bills?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
am really pleased. Last week, I made much of it being more than two years since
we had been asked an industrial relations question in this house, and I still
have not had one directed at me. It has been 325 days since I last had a question
on water—nearly a year. Despite last summer being the driest period on
record, the opposition still had no interest
in water. Anyway, I am glad I now have a question on water in this place.
I am aware of the concerns of some
strata companies that have been impacted by the very difficult and unacceptable
situation with Nicheliving. It involves some technicalities, and if members
bear with me, I will try to explain them. Essentially, it is a legal
requirement for a builder or developer to ensure that a water meter is installed on land that is under development.
Technically, Nicheliving met the requirements for the Willetton development to which the Leader of the Opposition
referred. In the case of strata schemes , the most common metering
options are a master meter that records all water use. A designated strata
manager receives a single bill and designates the bill out from there. Another
option is the installation of a master meter and individual sub-meters, which
is what the developer opted for in the case of Willetton. The development in
Willetton has three master meters and a sub-meter installed at individual lots. Technically, as I am advised, Nicheliving
met its requirements, but because it did not install the sub-meters , the
strata company is bearing the bills for the whole establishment. I can
understand its frustration about that. As the member said, the amount is just
over $135 000 for this development. The Water Corporation has wiped any penalty
interest for that amount not being paid. We are continuing to discuss with the
strata how to best manage this situation. As we have seen across the sorry saga
of Nicheliving, it has a long tail—this sort of poor behaviour by a builder
that has not met any of its legal obligations and, frankly, its professional or
moral obligations to individual home owners, of which this is an example.
Technically, the Water Corporation is not able to go after Nicheliving for the
debt; the debt has been incurred by the strata company. We will continue to
work with the strata title group to make sure that it is not unfairly
disadvantaged by the situation.
am really pleased. Last week, I made much of it being more than two years since
we had been asked an industrial relations question in this house, and I still
have not had one directed at me. It has been 325 days since I last had a question
on water—nearly a year. Despite last summer being the driest period on
record, the opposition still had no interest
in water. Anyway, I am glad I now have a question on water in this place.
I am aware of the concerns of some
strata companies that have been impacted by the very difficult and unacceptable
situation with Nicheliving. It involves some technicalities, and if members
bear with me, I will try to explain them. Essentially, it is a legal
requirement for a builder or developer to ensure that a water meter is installed on land that is under development.
Technically, Nicheliving met the requirements for the Willetton development to which the Leader of the Opposition
referred. In the case of strata schemes , the most common metering
options are a master meter that records all water use. A designated strata
manager receives a single bill and designates the bill out from there. Another
option is the installation of a master meter and individual sub-meters, which
is what the developer opted for in the case of Willetton. The development in
Willetton has three master meters and a sub-meter installed at individual lots. Technically, as I am advised, Nicheliving
met its requirements, but because it did not install the sub-meters , the
strata company is bearing the bills for the whole establishment. I can
understand its frustration about that. As the member said, the amount is just
over $135 000 for this development. The Water Corporation has wiped any penalty
interest for that amount not being paid. We are continuing to discuss with the
strata how to best manage this situation. As we have seen across the sorry saga
of Nicheliving, it has a long tail—this sort of poor behaviour by a builder
that has not met any of its legal obligations and, frankly, its professional or
moral obligations to individual home owners, of which this is an example.
Technically, the Water Corporation is not able to go after Nicheliving for the
debt; the debt has been incurred by the strata company. We will continue to
work with the strata title group to make sure that it is not unfairly
disadvantaged by the situation.
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