Further urban competition
| Objective: | To provide information, analysis and data on the case for further competition and market reforms in the urban water sector. |
| Funding: | $200,000 plus applicable GST (total project value) |
| Jurisdiction: | National |
| Commencing: | November 2009 |
| Completion: | March 2011 |
About the project
This national project will examine the case for further market-based reforms in the urban water sector and gather evidence to inform policy consideration.
Competition- and efficiency-related reforms are consistent with a range of National Water Initiative (NWI) objectives including the development of trade between urban and rural sectors, promotion of efficient and secure water supply, diversification of supplies and fit for purpose water use.
The response to the recent water supply crises has included significant new investments in bulk supplies and structural reforms to industry and regulatory responses. Consumers, private firms, the water industry and governments have also acted to support alternative or new sources of supply. There has been incremental but continuing engagement by states and industry on structural and competition reform issues, including third-party access arrangements.
This project will:
- review the evidence and provide analysis on possible reform objectives
- engage with industry to assess current arrangements and to understand better the costs and benefits of possible future reforms
- provide subsidiary reports and analysis (including data) to support further deliberations by policy makers.
The project will make use of the National Performance Reporting dataset compiled each year by the parties to the NWI. Partnerships will also be formed with industry and other stakeholders to support robust analysis and data gathering, as well as to ensure that the findings are disseminated to interested parties.
Project benefits
Project outcomes will support further policy development in Australia in relation to a range of NWI objectives including competition- and market-related reforms. The project will assist the national process for urban reform by articulating reform objectives, and will contribute to the Commission's future biennial assessments of progress in implementation of NWI reforms.