The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is undertaking a review of urban water national performance reporting arrangements. WSAA has a key role to play here to work collaboratively with the BOM and its consultants to ensure that the views of the industry are effectively captured and reflected in the review.
The review
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is undertaking a review of urban water national performance reporting arrangements.
Urban water utility performance reporting supports the commitments made by States and Territories under the National Water Initiative to report publicly and independently on the performance of water utilities.The BOM took on responsibility for reporting from the National Water Commission in 2015.
Annual national performance reports benchmark the pricing and service quality of Australian water utilities and are prepared independently by a Roundtable Group of the Bureau, State and Territory governments, and the Water Services Association of Australia. Indicators include water resource supply and usage, financial operations, bills and pricing, assets, water quality compliance and customer performance.
The review will be looking to develop a fit-for-purpose framework that meets the needs of all stakeholders now and into the foreseeable future, and has ongoing support of all jurisdictions and the urban water sector.
The review process
The BOM is engaging a consultant to lead the review, starting with initial stakeholder consultation on the role of the framework, the reporting approach, and preliminary views on indicators.
Over the full 18 month to 2 year term of the review, the Roundtable Group will be engaged on a more comprehensive review of the indicators.
The review is being led by the BOM, guided by a Steering Committee co-chaired with the Federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. WSAA is a member of the Steering Committee, along with a regulator (NSW IPART) and a policy agency representative (Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mine and Energy).
What we are doing
WSAA has a key role to play here to work collaboratively with the BOM and its consultants to ensure that the views of the industry are effectively captured and reflected in the review.
Initially, we are seeking early input from WSAA’s Committees and Networks on the overall role, purpose and value of a national performance report, prior to a strategic Board discussion in November. Once we get high level guidance from the industry, we anticipate forming a working group or groups to coordinate members’ views on what a modern set of indicators should comprise.
Dominic Schuster is working with WSAA on this project and can be contacted on 02 8397 7295 or dominic.schuster@wsaa.asn.au.
24 Sep 2018
