DETERMINATION OF FEES FOR WATER AND SEWERAGE SERVICES
NO 4 OF 2011
I, Brian Lacy, Administrator of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, make this Determination under section 4 of the Utilities and Services Ordinance 1996.
Dated 27 June 2011
Brian Lacy
Administrator
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1) Citation
This Determination may be cited as the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Water and Sewer Services Fees and Charges Determination No 4 of 2011. This Determination replaces all those made before.
2) Commencement
This Determination commences on 1 July 2011
3) Fees and Charges
a) The fixed charges for the provision of water and sewerage services are set out in Schedules 1 and 2 respectively.
b) Quantity charges are set out in Schedule 3 unless otherwise approved by the Authority.
c) Building application fees are set out in Schedule 4.
d) Other fees are set out in Schedule 5.
e) Information on Headworks Contributions is set out in Schedule 6.
4) Definitions
In this Determination –
“discharge factor” means the estimated percentage of water discharged into the Authority’s sewer in a period, set for each property by the Authority –
a) by individual assessment and consultation with the customer; or
b) at a default level of 95%;
“eligible pensioner” has the same meaning as in subsection 3(1) of the Rates and Charges (Rebates and Deferments) Act 1992 (WA) (CKI);
“eligible senior” has the same meaning as in subsection 3(1) of the Rates and Charges (Rebates and Deferments) Act 1992 (WA) (CKI);
“fire service” means a water supply connection provided for fire-fighting purposes;
“GRV”, in relation to land, means the gross rental value of the land;
“holiday accommodation” means accommodation which, at any time during the year for which a charge is to be assessed –
a) is held out by the owner or occupier of the land on which the accommodation is situated as being available; or
b) is made available by that owner or occupier;
for occupation for holiday purposes by persons other than that owner or occupier unless the accommodation is not so held out or made available substantially by way of trade or business or for the purpose of any trade or business;
“major fixture” means any of the following –
a) a water closet;
b) each urinal outlet contained within a floor-mounted urinal;
c) each stand of wall-hung urinals contained within a separate ablution area;
d) a pan washer;
“occupier” means the person in actual occupation of the land, or if there is no person in actual occupation, the person entitled to possession of the land;
“owner” has the meaning assigned in the Local Government Act 1995 (WA) (CKI);
“residence” means a private dwelling house, home unit, or flat, and includes any yard, garden, outhouse, or appurtenance belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith;
“the Authority” means the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Administration or its contracted agent;
“year” preceded by a reference to 2 calendar years (for example 2007/2008) means the period commencing on 1 July in the first of the years referred to and ending immediately before 1 July in the second of those years.
5) Classification of Land
a) Residential, if the land –
i) Is used wholly or primarily for the purpose of providing the owner or occupier of the land with a residence for himself, his family or servants, or any of them; and
ii) In the opinion of the Authority, is not used in whole or in part for the purpose of providing holiday accommodation;
b) Commercial, if the land is used for business, professional, holiday accommodation or other commercial purposes that are not the subject of another class prescribed in this section;
c) Industrial, if the land is used for manufacturing or processing involving the use of water as an essential commodity and is not the subject of another class prescribed in this section;
d) Vacant Land, if there is not building on the land and it is not appropriate to otherwise classify the land under this section;
e) Government, if the land is used by a Commonwealth or State government for business, professional, commercial, or office purposes, or as a power station, and the classification of the land is not otherwise specifically provided for in this section;
f) Institutional/Public, if the land is used for such club, institutional, or public purpose as the Authority approves, not being a purpose otherwise specifically provided for under this section;
g) Charitable purposes, if, in the opinion of the Authority, the land is used for the purpose of –
i) Providing relief or assistance to sick, aged, disadvantaged, unemployed or young persons; or
ii) Conducting other activities for the benefit of the public or in the interests of social welfare, by a private organization that is not operated for the purpose of profit or gain to individual members, shareholders or owners;
h) Local Government, if the land is used by a Local government for business or office purposes, and the classification of the land is not otherwise specifically provided for in this section.
6) Concessions
a) An eligible pensioner who is the owner and occupier of residential land and is liable to pay a fixed charge for the land set out in Schedules 1 and 2 is entitled to a 50% discount on the charge.
b) An eligible pensioner who is the occupier of residential land and is liable to pay the quantity charges set out in Schedule 3 is entitled to a 50% discount on the charges applicable on the first 600 kilolitres consumed.
c) An eligible senior who is the owner and occupier of residential land and is liable to pay a fixed charge for that land set out in Schedules 1 and 2 is entitled to a 25% discount on the charge.
7) Period for Payment
a) Unless special payment arrangements have been made, annual charges are due and payable as follows –
i) Annual charges issued in July are payable to the Authority in 2 equal instalments due on 31 July and 31 December, respectively, in the year for which the charge is made.
ii) A person may elect to pay an account relating to a charge –
(1) In full (whether or not it also relates to other charges in respect of the same year) on or before 31 July in that year in which case the person is to receive a discount of –
(a) The amount prescribed in Schedule 5 item 9 in respect of the account (irrespective of whether it relates to one or more charges); and
(b) Discount interest calculated at the rate prescribed in Schedule 5 item 10 for a period of 5 months on one-half of the charge for the year;
or
(2) In 4 equal instalments on or before 31 July, 31 October, 31 December, and 31 March, respectively, in that year, in which case the person, unless they are an eligible pensioner, is to be liable for an instalment charge of –
(a) The amount prescribed in Schedule 5 item 11 in respect of the account (irrespective of whether it relates to one or more charges); and
(b) Interest calculated at the rate prescribed in Schedule 5 item 12 for a period of 3 months on one-half of the charge for the year
(3) These options do not apply where payment of any amount due and payable to the Authority in relation to any water service in respect of the land concerned is outstanding.
(4) The Authority may, after having regard to the circumstances in a particular case, allow a person to elect to pay an account in accordance with the options provided without the requirement for the appropriate amount to be paid on or before 31 July.
(5) Where –
(a) A charge is for a period less than a full year; or
(b) An account for a charge is given after 31 July in the year to which the charge relates,
the charge is due in full 60 days after the date of the account for the charges.
b) Unless special payment arrangements have been made, accounts for quantity charges are due in full 60 days after the date of the account for the charges.
8) Non-payment
a) A reminder notice will be sent to the owner of the property 60 days after the due date advising that payment should be made within 14 days to avoid restriction action.
b) Where payment is not received by the specified date, a notice of restriction action will be delivered to the property advising that restriction action will be carried out on a date specified in the notice (normally within 7 days) unless payment is made by that date.
c) Failure to make payment in accordance with the notice specified in subsection (b) will result in the restriction of water supply to the property until such time as payment is made or suitable arrangements for paying the account (including the fee for removal of the restrictor device) are made.
d) The Authority will agree to make special payment arrangements for payment of accounts where consumers are experiencing difficulties meeting due dates and notify the Authority of the difficulties before the due date.
9) Revocation
Any previous Determination is revoked.
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SCHEDULE 1 – FIXED CHARGES FOR WATER
1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012
1.
Residential
$ 186.60
2.
Commercial or Industrial (except as specified in item 6) and Government –
15 or 20mm meter or un-metered (minimum)
$ 279.00
25mm
$ 435.90
30mm
$ 627.70
35, 38, or 40mm
$ 1,116.00
50mm
$ 1,743.70
70, 75 or 80mm
$ 4, 463.90
100mm
$ 6,974.90
140 or 150mm
$ 15,693.40
3.
Institutional/Public, Charitable purposes or Local Government
nil
4.
Vacant land
$ 186.60
5.
Fire service
$ 186.60
6.
Strata-titled Commercial or Industrial sharing a water service
$ 186.60
Note: Additional connections will be charged at the same rates as above.
SCHEDULE 2 – FIXED CHARGES FOR SEWERAGE
1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012
1.
Residential
Rate in the dollar
Minimum annual charge
Maximum annual charge
Increase in GRV-based annual charges limited to one third of the difference between the 2010/11 and 2011/12 annual charges
12 cents per $ of GRV
$ 302.30
$ 753.30
2.
Commercial or Industrial
First major fixture
Second major fixture
Third major fixture
Subsequent major fixture
Minimum annual charge
Increase in annual charges limited to one third of the difference between the 2010/11 and 2011/12 annual charges
$ 690.50
$ 295.60
$ 394.80$ 429.20
$ 690.50
3.
Vacant Land
Rate in the dollar
Minimum annual charge
Maximum annual charge (where held for future residential use)
Increase in GRV-based annual charges limited to one third of the difference between the 2010/11 and 2011/12 annual charges
12 cents per $ of GRV
$ 199.00
$ 753.30
4.
Institutional/Public, Charitable Purposes or Local Government
First major fixture
Subsequent major fixtures
Where the number of major fixtures is greater than one, the increase in annual charges is limited to one third of the difference between the 2010/11 and 2011/12 annual charges
$ 185.50
$ 81.60
5.
Government
First major fixture
Second major fixture
Third major fixture
Subsequent major fixtures
$ 690.50
$ 295.60
$ 394.80
$ 429.20
6.
Strata-titled Commercial or Industrial sharing a major fixture
$ 429.20
SCHEDULE 3 – QUANTITY CHARGES
1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012
1.
Residential or Vacant Land held for Residential Purposes (water use)
0 - 150kL
119.2 cents/kL
151 - 350kL
124.3 cents/kL
351 - 500kL
153.5 cents/kL
501 - 550kL
278.2 cents/kL
551 - 650kL
281.2 cents/kL
651 - 750kL
303.4 cents/kL
751 - 1150kL
535.3 cents/kL
1151 - 1550kL
636.3 cents/kL
1551 - 1950kL
659.2 cents/kL
Over 1950kL
678.2 cents/kL
2.
Commercial, Industrial, Government or Vacant land not mentioned in item 1 (water use)
0 - 300kL
334.5 cents/kL
Over 300kL
400.1 cents/kL
3.
Institutional/Public (non-government schools, churches, community facilities etc), Charitable purposes or Local Government (water use)
0 - 300kL
153.0 cents/kL
Over 300kL
185.9 cents/kL
4.
Commercial or Industrial discharge to sewer
0 - 200kL per property (allowance)
nil
Over 200kL
The number of kilolitres is calculated by multiplying the water used by the assessed discharge factor to determine discharge to sewer
84.6 cents/kL
5.
Government discharge to sewer
0 - 200kL per property (allowance)
nil
Over 200kL
The number of kilolitres is calculated by multiplying the water used by the assessed discharge factor to determine discharge to sewer
253.8 cents/kL
SCHEDULE 4 – BUILDING APPLICATION FEES
1.
Building plans to construct a new residential building or alter an existing residential building (charge is for each residential unit)
$111.50
2.
Minor building fee for approval of an outbuilding to a single residential property, includes pools, garages and pergolas (in sewered areas only)
$32.60
3.
Building plans for multi-residential units
$111.50/unit
4.
Building plans for buildings other than residential and multi-residential units (construct new building/alter existing building) at a cost of –
Up to $22,500 (sewered area only)
$ 25.00
Over $22,500 but not over $200,000
$ 85.00
$200,001 but not over $500,000
$ 330.00
$500,001 but not over $1,000,000
$ 550.00
And where the cost exceeds $1,000,000 –
First $10,000,000
$0.90 per $’000
Over $10,000,000
$9,000.00 plus $0.25 per $’000
over $10,000,000
SCHEDULE 5 – OTHER FEES
1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012
1.
Relocation of service
actual/quoted cost
2.
Water service disconnection or reconnection
actual/quoted cost
3.
Special meter readings for change of ownership/tenancy –
Within 7 days
$ 15.05
Within 2 days
$ 50.55
4.
Advice of sale requests –
Electronic advice – standard
$ 39.90
Electronic advice – urgent
$ 75.35
Manual advice – standard
$ 68.55
Manual advice – urgent
$ 103.60
5.
Meter Tests –
20mm to 25mm meters
$ 96.50
Over 25mm meters
actual/quoted cost
6.
Restoration of service after restriction between 7:00am and 4:00pm any day except Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
$ 138.00
Any other time
$ 219.00
7.
Sewer connection charge
actual/quoted cost
8.
Installation of sewer junction
actual/quoted cost
9.
Discount
$1.50
10.
Discount interest rate
4.10%
11.
Instalment charge
$3.00
12.
Instalment charge interest rate
5.10%
SCHEDULE 6 — HEADWORKS CONTRIBUTIONS
Headworks contributions will be payable for building developments, subdivisional developments and upgrading of existing water and wastewater services in accordance with the current charges as adopted by the Water Corporation of Western Australia. Details of these existing contributions will be provided on request.
