Developing future directions for urban water reform
Project details
| Objective: |
To identify the reforms needed to improve urban water performance, help the sector achieve its reform objectives, and better manage future risks and challenges |
| Funding: |
$0.78 million plus applicable GST |
| Jurisdiction: |
National |
| Commenced: |
July 2010 |
| Completed: |
November 2011 |
About the project
The Commission considers that the fundamental objectives and outcomes of the National Water Initiative (NWI) remain relevant to the urban water sector. Urban water management should aim to protect public health and safety, provide secure and reliable water services, be environmentally sustainable and achieve economic efficiency.
However, there are divergent views across the sector on how well the industry is performing against these objectives. Climate change, ongoing drought, population growth, challenging global financial conditions and changing customer expectations continue to test the sector.
The Commission conducted a comprehensive and credible review of the urban water sector. This project identified the reforms needed to improve urban water performance, help the sector achieve its reform objectives and better manage future risks and challenges.
The scope of the project included:
- development of status reports on key aspects of urban sector reform by respected water industry experts
- independent reviews by specialists to provide fresh and innovative ideas
- in-depth industry engagement
- detailed assessment and synthesis of findings.
Project benefits
This project will help build a sector that delivers on the objectives of the NWI by better understanding and identifying strategic directions.
The project will support national urban water reform by:
- providing evidence and analysis for assessing progress in implementation of the NWI and the review of the NWI
- prioritising work in the urban sector and promoting the objectives and outcomes of the NWI
- informing the implementation and assessment of national urban water planning principles and NWI pricing principles
- providing early and complementary input into the COAG commitment to review of the potential for micro-economic reform in the urban water sector.
Project Outcomes
This project produced the Urban water in Australia: future directions report.