CWMS stakeholders
The authorities involved in CWMS and their responsibilities are outlined below.
Councils
Each council is the owner of the asset and responsible for the operation, maintenance, upgrading and replacement of existing CWMS within its area. Billing for the service is undertaken by the council.
Local Government Association of South Australia
The LGA manages the new construction program which primarily involves:
- maintaining the register of applications for construction of new schemes;
- determination of the order of construction;
- management of the State Government subsidy payment (approximately $4.9 million per annum); and
- project co-ordination of the construction of new schemes.
Additionally the LGA facilitates CWMS-related technical advice, from industry experts, to councils.
Government of South Australia
The State Government is involved in CWMS from a financial and regulatory perspective:
- The Office of Local Government makes the arrangements for the State's subsidy payment of $4.9 million annually to the LGA
- The Department of Health & Wellbeing sets the standards by which CWMS must operate and is the approving authority for new schemes
- The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issues operating licences for CWMS (where schemes service a population greater than 1000 or are in a water protection zone where schemes service a population of more than 100).
Office of the Technical Regulator
The Office of the Technical Regulator is responsible for South Australia’s electrical, gas and plumbing safety and technical regulation.
The position of the Technical Regulator is established under the following Acts:
- Electricity Act 1996
- Gas Act 1997
- Energy Products (Safety and Efficiency) Act 2000
- Water Industry Act 2012
The Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) assists the Technical Regulator in the administration of these Acts. Its primary objectives are ensuring the safety of workers, consumers and property as well as compliance with legislation and applicable technical standards in the electricity, gas and water industries.
Essential Services Commission of South Australia
The Essential Services Commission (Commission) is an independent economic regulator established under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002, which came into effect on 12 September 2002. The Commission is the same body corporate as the former South Australian Independent Industry Regulator (SAIIR) established in 1999, which was previously responsible for some of the Commission's regulatory functions.
The Commission is a high performing and responsive agency, that administers a principles based regulatory and advisory framework focussed on outcomes.