2009 Retail Price Monitoring in South East Queensland Urban Water Sector

Under section 23A of the Queensland Competition Authority Act 1997 (the QCA Act), the Premier and the Treasurer (the Ministers) have referred the water supply activities of ten South East Queensland Local Governments to the Queensland Competition Authority (the Authority) for a price monitoring investigation.

The Ministers' Direction applies for the one year period commencing 1 July 2009 and requires the Authority to report on:

1. the extent to which increases in retail water prices are attributed by the Local Governments to increases in Bulk Water Grid costs and other costs in a Statement of Reasons provided by the Local Government;
2. whether the increases in Bulk Water Grid and other costs are supported by Local Government Budget or other official, legal or commercial documentation and official media statements and releases; and
3. whether these attributed increases in retail prices go beyond those required to recover the increase in Bulk Water Grid costs advised by the Government, and other costs.

Following consultation with the State Government and Councils on the Draft Reports, the Authority referred the Final Reports of the 2009 SEQ Retail Water Price Monitoring investigation to the Ministers on 30 October 2009. The Final Report for Lockyer Valley Regional Council will be released within the 120 day limit from the adoption of their Budget on 18 August 2009.

Any enquiries relating to the investigation should be directed to Mr Paul Smith (07 3222 0562).

Ministers' Direction Notice

• The Premier and the Treasurer - Ministerial Direction for Retail Price Monitoring in the SEQ Urban Water Sector (PDF, 284KB)

Reports/Papers

• Lockyer Valley Regional Council (Feb 10) (PDF, 608KB)
• Brisbane City Council (Nov 09) (PDF, 739KB)
• Gold Coast City Council (Nov 09) (PDF, 760KB)
• Ipswich City Council (Nov 09) (PDF, 777KB)
• Logan City Council (Nov 09) (PDF, 612KB)
• Moreton Bay Regional Council (Nov 09) (PDF, 620KB)
• Redland City Council (Nov 09) (PDF, 701KB)
• Scenic Rim Regional Council (Nov 09) (PDF, 597KB)
• Somerset Regional Council (Nov 09) (PDF, 597KB)
• Sunshine Coast Regional Council (Nov 09) (PDF, 1MB)