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WATER SERVICES ACT 2012 (NO. 24 OF 2012)

Table of Provisions

PART 1 -- Preliminary  

  • 1 Short title  
  • 2 Commencement  
  • 3 Terms used  
  • 4 Crown bound  

PART 2 -- Licensing of water service providers  

Division 1 -- Licensing requirement  

  • 5 Requirement for licences  
  • 6 Licensing extends to statutory providers  
  • 7 Minister may grant exemptions  

Division 2 -- Licences  

  • 8 Classification of water services  
  • 9 Operating areas  
  • 10 Application for licence  
  • 11 Grant of licence  
  • 12 Conditions of licence  
  • 13 Renewal of licence  
  • 14 Duration of licence  
  • 15 Transfer of licence  
  • 16 Person who has provided water services becoming licensee  
  • 17 Amendment of licence -- on initiative of Authority  
  • 18 Amendment or cancellation of licence -- on application of licensee  
  • 19 Effect of water resource management plans  
  • 20 Other laws not affected  

Division 3 -- Duties of licensees -- statutory licence conditions  

  • 21 Duty to provide services and do works  
  • 22 Provision of water services outside operating areas  
  • 23 Works holding arrangements  
  • 24 Asset management system  
  • 25 Operational audit  
  • 26 Compliance with codes of practice made by Minister  
  • 27 Compliance with code of conduct made by Authority  
  • 28 Code of conduct -- consultative committee  
  • 29 Licensee must comply with duties under Act  
  • 30 Prescribed conditions of licence  

Division 4 -- Failure to comply with licence -- enforcement  

  • 31 Failure to comply with licence  
  • 32 Right of licensee to make submissions  
  • 33 Exception -- dangerous situations  

Division 5 -- Ending of licence and cessation of water services  

  • 34 Cancellation of licence for serious default  
  • 35 Provision of a water service ceasing -- regulations may deal with consequences  
  • 36 Provision of a water service ceasing -- duty to leave system in safe condition  

Division 6 -- Water service works and other assets  

  • 37 Licensee operating with works holding body  
  • 38 Regulations may deal with transfer of assets on land not held by asset holder  

Division 7 -- Inspectors  

  • 39 Terms used  
  • 40 Entry for inspection purposes  
  • 41 General powers for inspection purposes  
  • 42 Power to prohibit use etc.  
  • 43 Offences  

Division 8 -- Review of decisions  

  • 44 Review of certain decisions  

Division 9 -- General licensing provisions  

  • 45 Applications -- additional information  
  • 46 Matters relevant to determination of public interest  
  • 47 Notice of and publication of certain decisions  
  • 48 Licences to be available for inspection  
  • 49 Regulations about public consultation  

PART 3 -- Last resort supply arrangements  

  • 50 Terms used  
  • 51 Designated areas  
  • 52 Authority to ensure supply plan in place for designated areas  
  • 53 Requirements for supply plans  
  • 54 How supply plan brought into operation  
  • 55 Appointment of supplier of last resort  
  • 56 Functions of supplier of last resort  
  • 57 Approval or determination of supply plan  
  • 58 Amendment of supply plan  
  • 59 Supplier of last resort to be treated as licensee  
  • 60 Duty to perform functions of supplier of last resort  
  • 61 Liability and recovery of costs of supplier of last resort  
  • 62 Regulations about last resort supply arrangements  

PART 4 -- Water services ombudsman scheme  

Division 1 -- Preliminary  

  • 63 Terms used  
  • 64 Regulations about water services ombudsman scheme  

Division 2 -- Approval of water services ombudsman scheme  

  • 65 Authority may approve scheme  
  • 66 Requirements for scheme or amendment to be approved  
  • 67 Revocation of approval  

Division 3 -- Scheme operation  

  • 68 Customers etc. may have decision or complaint reviewed  
  • 69 Jurisdiction of courts and tribunals  

Division 4 -- Membership of approved scheme  

  • 70 Membership of approved scheme  

PART 5 -- Water services  

Division 1 -- Terms used  

  • 71 Terms used  

Division 2 -- Provision of water services generally  

  • 72 Application of this Division in relation to certain agreements  
  • 73 Statutory entitlement to provision of water services  
  • 74 Terms and conditions of provision of water services  
  • 75 Agreements about provision of water services  
  • 76 Aspects of certain agreements binding on successors  
  • 77 Interruption of water services generally  
  • 78 Meters  
  • 79 Accuracy and testing of meters  

Division 3 -- Development and building control, and infrastructure contributions  

  • 80 Terms used  
  • 81 Application of this Division  
  • 82 Notification of and requirements as to building work  
  • 83 Satisfying requirements for additional water services  
  • 84 Ensuring water service works are done  
  • 85 Infrastructure contributions  
  • 86 Property in certain works  
  • 87 Review of certain decisions under or relating to this Division  

Division 4 -- Protection of works, fittings and fixtures  

  • 88 Interfering with water service works of licensee  
  • 89 Taking water without or contrary to approval  
  • 90 Construction etc. over or in vicinity of water service works of licensee  
  • 91 Requirement to use etc. approved fittings, fixtures and pipes  
  • 92 Requirement to maintain etc. fittings, fixtures and pipes  

Division 5 -- Water supply services  

  • 93 Approval required before connecting to water supply  
  • 94 No connection of additional water supply without approval  
  • 95 Disconnection or reduction in rate of flow etc.  
  • 96 Fire hydrants  
  • 97 Taking water from fire hydrants  

Division 6 -- Sewerage services  

Subdivision 1 -- Sewer connections  
  • 98 Minister may require connection to sewerage works  
  • 99 Approval required before connecting to sewer  
  • 100 Common sewer connections  
  • Subdivision 2 -- Discharge of trade waste  
  • 101 Terms used  
  • 102 Discharge of trade waste without or contrary to licensee’s approval  
  • 103 Approval of licensee  
  • 104 Discharge of trade waste not in accordance with approval  
  • 105 Failure to maintain fittings, fixtures and pipes  
  • 106 Compliance notices  
  • 107 Regulations relating to discharge of trade waste  

Division 7 -- Drainage services  

  • 108 Term used: drainage assets  
  • 109 Controlled drainage assets  
  • 110 Minister may require connection to drainage works  
  • 111 Approval required before connecting to drainage works  
  • 112 Requirement to maintain or modify drainage assets, etc.  
  • 113 Relationship of this Division to certain other Acts  

Division 8 -- Enforcement  

Subdivision 1 -- Entry for compliance purposes  
  • 114 Term used: compliance purposes  
  • 115 Entry for compliance purposes  
  • 116 General powers for compliance purposes  
  • 117 Offences  
  • Subdivision 2 -- Compliance notices  
  • 118 Application of Subdivision  
  • 119 Compliance notices  
  • 120 Giving compliance notices  
  • 121 Licensee or Minister may remedy failure to comply  
  • 122 Review of decisions relating to giving compliance notices  

Division 9 -- Fees and charges for water services  

  • 123 Licensees may impose fees and charges for water services  
  • 124 Regulations may provide for water service charges  
  • 125 Supplying groups of dwellings  
  • 126 Water service charges payable despite change in ownership of land or liability to prosecution  
  • 127 Order for payment of water service charges  

Division 10 -- General provisions  

  • 128 Prohibition on dealings in land  
  • 129 Reading meters etc. and routine inspection and maintenance  
  • 130 Dangerous situations  
  • 131 Approval of licensee subject to conditions  

PART 6 -- Powers in relation to water service works  

Division 1 -- Preliminary  

  • 132 Terms used  
  • 133 Major works  
  • 134 General works  
  • 135 Exempt works  

Division 2 -- Provision of water service works  

  • 136 Powers in respect of water service works  
  • 137 Exemption of water service works from certain planning laws  
  • 138 Surveys and testing work  
  • 139 Ancillary works powers  
  • 140 Entry for provision of works etc.  
  • 141 Special provisions applicable to road works  

Division 3 -- Major works, requirements for public notification and Ministerial authorisation  

  • 142 Prerequisites to provision of major works  
  • 143 Licensee to prepare plans and publish and give notice of major works  
  • 144 Objections and submissions  
  • 145 Licensee may amend proposal  
  • 146 Submission of proposal to Minister  
  • 147 Powers of Minister in respect of proposal  
  • 148 Certain objectors and submitters to be notified of authorisation  
  • 149 Certain alterations, extensions and additions to major works  

Division 4 -- General works, requirements for public notification and, in certain cases, for Ministerial authorisation  

  • 150 Prerequisites to provision of general works  
  • 151 Licensee to prepare plans and give notice of general works  
  • 152 Objections and submissions  
  • 153 Licensee may amend proposal  
  • 154 Submission of proposal to Minister  
  • 155 Powers of Minister in respect of proposal  

Division 5 -- Exempt works  

  • 156 No prerequisites under this Part  

Division 6 -- Deviation and modification  

  • 157 Term used: water service works  
  • 158 Plans may indicate possible deviation from line of works  
  • 159 General power to deviate by up to 20 m  
  • 160 Modification by agreement with owner and occupier  
  • 161 When Minister may authorise deviation or modification  

Division 7 -- Property in water service works  

  • 162 Property in water service works and things placed on land  
  • 163 Powers of licensee in respect of water service works that are part of land  

PART 7 -- Powers in relation to interests in land  

  • 164 Terms used  
  • 165 Power of public authority to grant certain interests  
  • 166 Taking of interest in land for purposes of licensee  
  • 167 Vesting of interest  
  • 168 Easements in gross  
  • 169 Subdivision of land -- planning approval  
  • 170 Sale of land  

PART 8 -- Entry for performance of functions  

Division 1 -- Preliminary  

  • 171 Terms used  
  • 172 Application of this Part  

Division 2 -- Entry for performance of functions  

  • 173 Entry with consent or under notice or warrant  
  • 174 Notice of entry  
  • 175 Rights of occupier of dwelling  
  • 176 When authorised person must leave etc.  
  • 177 Power to enter includes power to enter other places  
  • 178 Entry with vehicles and equipment  
  • 179 Assistance to exercise powers  
  • 180 Use of force  
  • 181 Actions of authorised persons and others  
  • 182 Injunction in support of power of entry  
  • 183 Complaints about exercise of powers  

Division 3 -- Warrants to enter  

  • 184 Term used: remote communication  
  • 185 Application for warrant  
  • 186 Contents of application  
  • 187 How application to be made  
  • 188 Issue of warrant  
  • 189 Contents of warrant  
  • 190 Execution of warrant  

PART 9 -- Legal proceedings  

Division 1 -- Legal proceedings  

  • 191 Prosecutions -- who may commence  
  • 192 Time for bringing prosecutions  
  • 193 Continuing offences -- daily penalties  
  • 194 Injunctions to ensure compliance with this Act  
  • 195 Court’s power to make ancillary orders on conviction  

Division 2 -- Liability of certain persons  

  • 196 Liability of officers of body corporate  
  • 197 Liability of principal for acts of agent  
  • 198 Liability of employer for offences of employee  
  • 199 Conduct on behalf of bodies corporate and principals  

Division 3 -- Evidentiary provisions  

  • 200 Evidence of certain things relating to contraventions  
  • 201 Evidence of authorisation and enforcement matters  
  • 202 Evidence of scientific matters  
  • 203 Documentary and signed evidence  
  • 204 Evidence of ownership or occupancy  
  • 205 Evidence of documents and service  
  • 206 Provisions are in addition to Evidence Act 1906  

PART 10 -- Administration  

Division 1 -- The Economic Regulation Authority  

  • 207 Functions of Authority  
  • 208 Authority’s capacity to authorise or designate persons  

Division 2 -- Inspectors and compliance officers  

  • 209 Terms used  
  • 210 Designation of inspectors and compliance officers  
  • 211 Limitations on scope of authority of inspectors and compliance officers  

Division 3 -- General matters  

  • 212 Delegation by Minister  
  • 213 Delegation by CEO  
  • 214 Information sharing  
  • 215 Confidentiality of information  

PART 11 -- Miscellaneous  

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