2021-22 Water Pricing

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) of NSW has made its determination of WaterNSW prices for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 for bulk water services in Greater Sydney. A copy of the determination can be located on the IPART website.

WaterNSW charges to large customers for 2021-22 * (i.e. Sydney Water Corporation)

Notes for Greater Sydney water charges

* the fixed availability charge assumes one large customer in the Greater Sydney catchment area (i.e Sydney Water Corporation). If the large customer base expands during the 2020-24 determination period, then the fixed availability charge will be levied on each large customer in proportion of their share of total water delivered to large customers in the Greater Sydney catchment area.

** these are indicative charges which assumes the Sydney Desalination Plant (SDP) delivers the maximum amount per month (7,980 MLs) as per clause 3 of the determination. If the volume of water delivered by SDP is less than 7,980 MLs, then the volumetric charge is scaled down in proportion to the actual volume of water deliver by SDP. The actual volume of water delivered by SDP must be notified to WaterNSW by all large customers no later than 5 business days after the end of the relevant month.

*** The charges above exclude Shoalhaven transfer costs, which are recovered through an additional volumetric charge determined under clause 3 of the determination document. Shoalhaven transfer costs are determined by reference to the efficient benchmark cost of electricity as determined by IPART.

**** The indicative volumetric charges do not apply when:

• Number of days in a month are not equal to 30 or 31
• Number of drought days in a month are not equal to the length of the month

In these cases, the volumetric charge will be recalculated in accordance with clause 3 of the determination.

Charges are billed quarterly in arrears, payment terms for all invoices is 30 days from the date of issue. For more information on our billing terms and conditions, or if you are having difficulties paying your water bill, please refer to Accounts and billing.

WaterNSW charges to councils for 2021-22

WaterNSW charges for Greater Sydney 2021-22

Pricing as determined by IPART.

IPART use the term ‘drought’ as a shorthand for when dam levels fall below 60%.

IPART use a ‘60/70 trigger’ for moving between non-drought and drought usage prices. That is, drought usage prices will apply 31 days after dam levels fall below 60% and would continue to apply until 31 days after dam levels are above 70%, at which the non-drought usage price would apply.

* Drought Response Day means a day that falls within a period which commences on and includes a Trigger Day and ends on and includes the day before the next Cease Day.

IPART charges for Water NSW Infrastructure Pty Ltd from 1 July 2021 - 30 June 2022

WaterNSW Fish River prices for 01 October 2021 to 30 June 2022

Notes for Fish River prices

Pricing as determined by the Independent Regulatory and Pricing Tribunal (IPART).

Fish River connection charge is $926.38 for low complexity connections where no tapping band or pressure reducing valve is required, $3,512.39 for medium complexity connections where a taping band is required, and $7,181.32 for high complexity connections where a pressure reducing valve is required. Fish River disconnection charge is $260.80.

Access is $ per KL per minimum annual quantity. And Usage is per KL of water used.

Fish River Minors charges are billed bi-annually in arrears and Fish River Majors charges are billed monthly in arrears. Payment terms for all invoices is 30 days from the date of issue. For more information on our billing terms and conditions, or if you are having difficulties paying your water bill, please refer to Accounts and billing.

Fish River Water Supply Scheme customers – minimum annual quantity (MAQ)

For the first year of the determination, the pro rata provisions will apply:

The Commencement Date to which the determinations apply for WAMC and Rural Valley monopoly services is less than a full year (that is, the commencement date is 1 October 2021). Therefore, the annual charges in these determination (other than those calculated by reference to usage) will be pro-rated for that period, based on the proportion that the number of days in that period bears to the number of days in the year.

For example, if this determination commences on 1 October 2021 the annual charges in this determination will be pro-rated based on the number of days in the period from 1 October 2021 to 30 June 2022 as a proportion of the total number of days in the financial year from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 and the annual charges for the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021, will be determined under the 2016 Determination and pro-rated in accordance with that determination.

Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) Charges – Bulk Water Determination

MDB charges are determined by IPART every 3-4 years under Part 6 of the Water Charge Rules. The reasons are:

(a) IPART was accredited under Part 9 of Water Charge (Infrastructure) Rules 2010 (WCIR) as it was then known in 2016 to determine or approve pricing applications for MDB large bulk water providers.

MDB bulk water charges are regulated under the WCIR and Commonwealth Water Act 2007.

The accreditation was subject to the two mandatory conditions and attached the ACCC’s pricing principles for price approvals and determinations under the WCIR, dated July 2011 (the ACCC Pricing Principles). The mandatory conditions include:

b) that the applied provisions apply as a law of the State and are in force;

c) that the approval or determination of regulated charges of all Part 6 operators and Part 7 operators relating to State water resources of that State must be carried out by the accredited agency in accordance with the accredited arrangements and the applied provisions. Please note: the applied provisions refer to the WCIR.

The MDB current pricing arrangements have been determined by IPART under the 2021 Rural Valley IPART determination. These arrangements last until 2025 at which point, they will be reviewed by IPART. For further information on the 2021 Rural Valley Price Review, please visit IPART’s website.

Under the IPART 2021 Rural Valley determination, IPART has determined the regulated charges set out in Schedules 1, 3 and 4 of the IPART determination under the WCIR. These regulated charges are the maximum amounts that WaterNSW may charge.

The Bulk Water Charges in the MDB recover the cost of MDB Bulk Water Services that WaterNSW supplies in regulated rivers to the following MDB valleys:

1. Border
2. Gwydir
3. Namoi
4. Peel
5. Lachlan
6. Macquarie
7. Murray
8. Murrumbidgee
9. Lowbidgee
10. Fish River (raw water customers)

The bulk water charges in the Coastal valleys recover the cost of bulk water services that WaterNSW supplies in regulated rivers to the Fish River (filtered water customers), Hunter, North Coast and South Coast valleys. Consistent with the water services order, these services include:

1. the making available of water;
2. the making available of the State Water Corporation’s water supply facilities; or
3. the supplying of water, whether by means of the State Water Corporation’s water supply facilities or otherwise. together, Monopoly Services). References to the former State Water Corporation in the Water Services Order are to be read as references to WaterNSW, in accordance with clause 24 of Schedule 2 of the Water NSW Act 2014 (Water NSW Act).

The activity costs associated with the bulk water charges are described in the IPART Final Decision, IPART Draft Decision and accompanying reports. They include:

Customer support, Customer Billing, Metering & Compliance, Water delivery and Other Operations, Corrective Maintenance, Routing Maintenance, Asset Management Planning, Insurance, Hydrometric monitoring, Flood Operations, Water Quality Monitoring, Dam Safety Compliance, Environmental Planning & Protection, Dam Safety Compliance Capital Projects pre-1997, Asset Management Planning, Routine Maintenance, Structural and Other Enhancement, Corporate Systems, Office Accommodation Capital Projects, Information Management Projects, Drought Projects, Water Delivery and Other Operations.

The regulated charges set out in Schedule 3 of the IPART determination cover rural bulk water services that WaterNSW supplies to Rural Water Supply Customers in the Fish River Water Supply Scheme.

The regulated charges set out in Schedule 4 of the IPART determination cover miscellaneous rural bulk water services that WaterNSW supplies in the MDB Valleys listed in clause 3.1(b) and to rural water supply customers in the Fish River Water Supply Scheme.

MDB charges are subject to the annual review process carried by IPART (typically around April each year) as per Division 3 of Part 6 of the WCIR. This process permits IPART to consider whether or not it is reasonably necessary to make variations to the MDB charges having regard to 1) changes in damned or consumption forecast and 2) price stability. This process also incorporates any annual updates to the MDB charges to account for inflationary adjustments. Please see IPART’s website for information on the annual review process.

WaterNSW Regulated River prices for 1 October 2021 to 30 June 2022

All charges apply from this date until otherwise specified. Entitlement charges are billed per share and usage charges are billed per megalitre extracted.

WaterNSW Groundwater management prices for 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023

All charges apply from this date until otherwise specified. Entitlement charges are billed per share and usage charges are billed per megalitre extracted.

Inland/Border Rivers

The below charges are relevant for the four water sources listed within Inland/Border Rivers.

The proportion of voluntary telemetry uptake as at 1 April 2022 and submitted to IPART is 0% - 25%, therefore the following charge applies.

Notes for groundwater management prices

Metering service charges for 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023

The metering service charge (MSC) is calculated and invoiced annually in arrears. You will receive a separate WaterNSW invoice for your metering charges as they are calculated based on your work approval while your entitlement/usage charge is based on your water access licence.

Call our Customer Service Centre on 1300 662 077, if you have a concern regarding the accuracy of the meter. If you elect to have your meter tested, a deposit of $1,859.48 is payable and payment is required prior to testing. If the meter is found to be inaccurate, your deposit will be refunded in full. However, if the meter is found to be within accuracy standards then the total meter accuracy testing charge will be invoiced.

Note, the meter laboratory verification charge at request of customer is $7,355.98 and $4,915.82 for meter in-situ validation charge – where a meter is relocated or disturbed. The meter reset fee after suspension of maintenance for a year or more is $272.53 plus cost of parts.

Annual government-owned meter service charge – non-urban metering reform

The below table represents the government-owned MSC once a government-owned meter becomes compliant under the NSW Government’s non-urban metering reform. The list of rollout dates is available here.

Non-telemetered privately-owned meters

Telemetered or agency read government-owned meters

The below table represents current government-owned MSC. Once a government-owned meter becomes compliant under the NSW Government’s non-urban metering reform, the annual government-owned MSC comes into effect based on the compliance date associated with the meter.

Non-telemetered government-owned meters with customer reading and reporting

The below table represents current government-owned MSC. Once a government-owned meter becomes compliant under the NSW Government’s non-urban metering reform, the annual government-owned MSC comes into effect based on the compliance date associated with the meter.

Notes for metering service charges

WaterNSW Unregulated river management prices for 1 October 2021 to 30 June 2022

All charges apply from this date until otherwise specified. Entitlement charges are billed per share and usage charges are billed per megalitre extracted.

Notes for unregulated river management prices

All prices are $ per megalitre of entitlements and megalitre of usage for the fixed and variable charges.
Charges collected on behalf of Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (WAMC).
These prices are determined by the Independent Regulatory and Pricing Tribunal (IPART) for WAMC costs.
Please note a minimum annual charge of $221.50 applies in relation to the WAMC charges.

Charges are billed annually in arrears, payment terms for all invoices are 30 days from the date of issue. For more information on our billing terms and conditions, or if you are having difficulties paying your water bill, please refer to Accounts and billing.

The maximum annual charge that WAMC may levy for the Monopoly Services provided under a Salinity and Water Table Management Access Licence that authorises is the minimum annual charge.

*A Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) customer means a holder of a water licence that authorises the taking of water from:

1. Regulated Rivers in the – Border, Gwydir, Namoi, Peel, Lachlan, Macquarie, Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys;
2. Unregulated Rivers in the – Border, Gwydir, Namoi, Peel, Lachlan, Macquarie, Far West, Murray and Murrumbidgee valleys; or
3. Groundwater in the – Inland and Murrumbidgee valleys.

**A Border River Commission (BRC) customer means a holder of a water licence that authorises the taking of water from:

1. Regulated Rivers in the – Border valley;
2. Unregulated Rivers in the – Far West valley; or
3. Groundwater from the – Macintyre Alluvial Groundwater Source, NSW Border Rivers Upstream Keetah Bridge Alluvial Groundwater Source, NSW Border Rivers Downstream Keetah Bridge Alluvial Groundwater Source and Ottleys Creek Alluvial Groundwater Source.

***WaterNSW licences in South Coast unregulated rivers attract an additional entitlement charge of $0.41 per ML.

****The Annual scheme management charge is levied on all billable licences.
For the first year of the determination, the pro rata provisions will apply:
The commencement date to which the determinations apply for WAMC and Rural Valley monopoly services is less than a full year (that is, the commencement date is 1 October 2021). Therefore, the annual charges in these determination (e.g., fixed entitlements charges, the WAMC Minimum Annual Charge, Metering Service Charge, New Metering Charges (new metering service charge, telemetry non-telemetry charge, scheme management charge) other than those calculated by reference to usage) will be pro-rated for that period, based on the proportion that the number of days in that period bears to the number of days in the year.

For example, if this determination commences on 1 October 2021 the annual charges in this determination will be pro-rated based on the number of days in the period from 1 October 2021 to 30 June 2022 as a proportion of the total number of days in the financial year from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 and the annual charges for the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021, will be determined under the 2016 Determination and pro-rated in accordance with that determination.

Nil price for Aboriginal Cultural Licences
Despite anything in this letter, the maximum price for Monopoly Services under the WAMC and WaterNSW Rural Valley Bulk Water Determination in respect of an Aboriginal Cultural Licence is zero. An Aboriginal Cultural Licence means any of the following categories of access licence referred to in schedule 3 of the Water Management Regulation:
(a) regulated river (high security) Aboriginal cultural licence;
(b) unregulated river Aboriginal cultural licence; and
(c) aquifer Aboriginal cultural licence.

WAMC charges are determined by IPART under the IPART Act and the WAMC determination. The reasons are:

1. Section 11 of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal Act 1992 (IPART Act) gives the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) a standing reference to conduct investigations and make reports to the Minister administering the IPART Act on the determination of the pricing for a government monopoly service supplied by a government agency specified in Schedule 1 of the IPART Act.
2. WAMC is listed in Schedule 1 of the IPART Act.
3. The services which are declared as government monopoly services under clause 3 of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (Water Services) Order 2004 are services supplied by the Corporation which involve:
   (1) the making available of water;
   (2) the making available of the Corporation’s water supply facilities; or
   (3) the supplying of water, whether by means of the Corporation’s water supply facilities or otherwise, (together, the Monopoly Services).
4. Under section 4(6) of the IPART Act, the Corporation is taken to be the supplier of the services for which fees and charges are payable under Chapter 3 of the Water Management Act 2000 (Water Management Act).
5. In practice, charges for such water resource management activities are made as charges under licences, permits, approvals or authorities granted by:
   (1) the Minister under Chapter 3 of the Water Management Act (in areas of NSW in which proclamations under sections 55A and 88A of the Water Management Act are in force); and
   (2) the Corporation under the Water Act 1912 (Water Act) (in other areas of NSW).

The WAMC charges recover the costs of water management and planning activities and services which are declared as government monopoly services under clause 3 of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (Water Services) Order 2004. These involve:

1. the making available of water;
2. the making available of the Corporation’s water supply facilities; or
3. the supplying of water, whether by means of the Corporation’s water supply facilities or otherwise, (together, the Monopoly Services).

In addition, WAMC charges recover the costs of the supply of services for which fees and charges are payable under Chapter 3 of the Water Management Act. In practice, charges for such water resource management activities are made as charges under licences, permits, approvals or authorities granted by:

1. the Minister under Chapter 3 of the Water Management Act (in areas of NSW in which proclamations under sections 55A and 88A of the Water Management Act are in force); and
2. the Corporation under the Water Act (in other areas of NSW).

The maximum prices in the IPART Determinations do not include GST. For the avoidance of doubt, where GST is lawfully applied to the maximum prices set out in the IPART determinations, the resulting GST inclusive price is consistent with the determination and in this event, WaterNSW would levy additional price component for GST consistent with the determination during the financial year.

The activity costs associated with the WAMC charges are described in the IPART Final Decision, IPART Draft Decision and accompanying reports. They include:
Surface water quantity monitoring, Surface water data management and reporting, Surface water quality monitoring, Surface water algal monitoring, Surface water ecological condition monitoring, Groundwater quantity monitoring, Groundwater quality monitoring, Groundwater data management and reporting, Water take data collection, Water take data management and reporting, Surface water modelling, Groundwater modelling, Water resource accounting, Systems operation and water availability management, Blue-green algae management, Environmental water management, Water plan performance assessment and evaluation, Water plan development, Floodplain management plan, Drainage management plan development, Regional planning and management strategies, Development of water planning and regulatory framework, Cross border and national commitments, Water management works, Regulation systems management, Consents management and licence conversion, Compliance management, Water consents overhead, Water consents transactions, Customer management, Business governance and support, Billing management.

These services are currently delivered by DPE, NRAR and WaterNSW on behalf of WAMC. For more information, please refer to the IPART website.

The maximum annual price that WAMC may charge for the Monopoly Services provided in respect of a water licence, which applies only for WAMC charges, is the sum of:
(a) the higher of:
(1) the minimum annual charge; and
(2) where the licence holder has a meter: the sum of the following (2-part tariff):
(A) an entitlement charge calculated in accordance with the WAMC determination; and
(B) the usage charge calculated in accordance with the WAMC determination;
(3) where the licence holder does not have a meter: the entitlement charge (1-part tariff) calculated in accordance with the WAMC determination; and
(4) where the licence holder does not have a meter and does not have a mechanism for extracting water: nil; and
(b) for an MDBA customer, the applicable MDBA entitlement charge and MDBA usage charge for the relevant water source and relevant year; and
(c) for a BRC customer, the applicable BRC entitlement charge and BRC usage charge for the relevant water source and relevant year.

Metering service charges for 1 October 2021 to 30 June 2022

The metering service charge (MSC) is calculated and invoiced annually in arrears. You will receive a separate WaterNSW invoice for your metering charges as they are calculated based on your work approval while your entitlement/usage charge is based on your water access licence.

Call us on 1300 662 077, if you have a concern regarding the accuracy of the meter. If you elect to have your meter tested, a deposit of $1,769.25 is payable and payment is required prior to testing. If the meter is found to be inaccurate, your deposit will be refunded in full. However, if the meter is found to be within accuracy standards then the total meter accuracy testing charge will be invoiced.

Note, the meter laboratory verification charge at request of customer is $6,999.03 and $4,677.28 for meter in-situ validation charge – where a meter is relocated or disturbed. The meter reset fee after suspension of maintenance for a year or more is $259.31 plus cost of parts.

Annual government-owned meter service charges

The below table represents the government-owned MSC once a government-owned meter becomes compliant under the NSW Government’s non-urban metering reform. The list of rollout dates is available here.

Non-telemetered privately-owned meters

Telemetered or agency read government-owned meters

The below table represents current government-owned MSC. Once a government-owned meter becomes compliant under the NSW Government’s non-urban metering reform, the annual government-owned MSC comes into effect based on the compliance date associated with the meter.

Non-telemetered government-owned meters with customer reading and reporting

The below table represents current government-owned MSC. Once a government-owned meter becomes compliant under the NSW Government’s non-urban metering reform, the annual government-owned MSC comes into effect based on the compliance date associated with the meter.

Notes for metering service charges

The charge structure will move from the existing charge structure of metering service charge by meter size to a flat fee structure by operating costs (opex) and capital costs (capex) metering service charge.Metering charges are calculated annually in arrears.

The new MSC will be triggered as follows:

1. New Government Meter Charge Trigger Day means, in respect of a government-owned meter, the later of:
   a) the day the meter becomes compliant with the metering requirements; and
   b) if there is a date specified in clause 230 of the Water Management Regulation from which a temporary exemption from the mandatory metering equipment condition would cease to have effect in respect of the meter, that date.
2. There will be a pro rata between the existing and new MSC as follows
   a) For a:
   i) Government-owned meter installed in respect of a licence holder, on and from the New Government Meter charge Trigger Day, the charges set out in the current government-owned table will cease to apply and the charges in the annual meter service charges table and the telemetry and non-telemetry service charge table will instead apply; and
   ii) Privately-owned meter installed in respect of a licence holder, on and from the New Private Meter Charge Trigger Day, unless the meter is not subject to the metering requirements, will be charged the telemetry and non-telemetry charges.
3. If customers move from government-owned meter to privately-owned meter, the government meter charges and privately-owned meter charges will be pro rated as follows:
   a) Different annual charges apply to government-owned meters and privately-owned meters. Where a licence holder switches from a government-owned meter to a privately-owned meter (or vice versa), the annual charges that will be applicable will be pro-rated based on the proportion of days in the financial year that the licence holder used a:
   i) Government-owned meter as against the number of days in the financial year; and
   ii) Privately-owned meter as against the number of days in the financial year.
4. The telemetry and non-telemetry charges apply based on overall voluntary telemetry uptake to both privately owned meters and government-owned meters (the telemetry service charge will apply to government-owned meters, if all government-owned meter s are telemetry) The telemetry/non-telemetry charges apply as follows:
   a) For a government-owned meter installed in respect of a licence holder, on and from the New Government Meter Charge Trigger Day, the:
   i) meter service charge in the government-owned table will cease to apply in respect of that government-owned meter; and
   ii) charges in the annual government-owned table will instead apply in respect of that government-owned meter.
   b) For a privately-owned meter installed in respect of a licence holder, on and from the New Private Meter Charge Trigger Day, unless the meter is not subject to the metering requirements, the:
   i) reading / assessment charge will cease to apply in respect of that privately-owned meter; and
   ii) the annual telemetry and non-telemetry charges will instead apply in respect of that privately-owned meter.
   b) For a privately-owned meter installed in respect of a licence holder, on and from the New Private Meter Charge Trigger Day, unless the meter is not subject to the metering requirements, the:
   i) reading / assessment charge will cease to apply in respect of that privately-owned meter; and
   ii) charges in the telemetry and non-telemetry charges will instead apply in respect of that privately-owned meter.
5. The trigger for these new charges are as follows:
   a) New Government Meter Charge Trigger Day means, in respect of a government-owned meter, the later of:
   i) the day the meter becomes compliant with the metering requirements; and
   ii) if there is a date specified in clause 230 of the Water Management Regulation from which a temporary exemption from the mandatory metering equipment condition would cease to have effect in respect of the meter, that date.
   b) New Private Meter Charge Trigger Day means, in respect of a privately-owned meter, the date specified in clause 230 of the Water Management Regulation from which a temporary exemption from the mandatory metering equipment condition would cease to have effect in respect of the meter.
   c) In the event that a customer moves from a telemetry meter to a non-telemetry meter and vice versa, the following pro rata provision will apply:
   i) Different annual charges apply to meters that are read using telemetry and meters that are not read using telemetry. Where a licence holder switches from a meter read using telemetry to one that is not read using telemetry (or vice versa), the annual charges that will be applicable will be pro-rated based on the proportion of days in the financial year that the Licence Holder used a meter that was:
   (1) read using telemetry as against the number of days in the financial year; and
   (2) not read using telemetry as against the number of days in the financial year.
   The clause is not intended to prohibit WAMC from issuing a bill for any period before the Commencement Date.
6. In the event that a customer moves from a privately owned meter to a government-owned meter, the following pro rata provision will apply:
   a) Different annual charges apply to government-owned meters and privately-owned meters. Where a licence holder switches from a government-owned meter to a privately-owned meter (or vice versa), the annual charges that will be applicable will be pro-rated based on the proportion of days in the financial year that the licence holder used a:
   i) Government-owned meter as against the number of days in the financial year; and
   ii)Privately-owned meter as against the number of days in the financial year.

Telemetry and non-telemetry service charge

This service charge applies to both government-owned and privately-owned meters.

The NSW Government will provide a rebate of $975 to all privately-owned meters when a working telemetry device is installed, this will offset the telemetry service charge until the rebate is exhausted.

Did you know? There is a $975 telemetry rebate available to help offset the cost of installing a telemetered meter.

For more information on metering and the telemetry rebate, visit Non-urban metering.

Application Fees for Water Access Licences, Dealings and Approval

Notes for application fees

These fees are determined by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

WaterNSW collects the groundwater assessment fee on behalf of the Department of Planning and Environment-Water (DPE-Water). DPE-Water hydrogeologists are responsible for undertaking the groundwater assessment, when required.

WaterNSW charges fees to cover the assessment and processing costs of applications for access licences, water supply work approvals, water use approvals and access licence dealings lodged under the Water Management Act 2000.

These fees will increase annually, based on changes in the consumer price index. Fees are exempt from GST.

A ‘new’ work approval means any work proposed which is not currently listed on a water approval or is replacing an existing work which is listed on a water approval.

Consent Transactions in relation to Monopoly Services provided by WAMC.

Consent transaction in relation to drillers licences, floodwork approvals, and solicitor enquiries and special meter reads are not disclosed, as they have not been regulated by IPART and are deemed to be unregulated services.

Impact and rules-based assessments:
Applications generally require a detailed impact assessment. This includes case by case investigation to consider potential local impacts and determine whether those impacts require refusal or consent, or consent subject to conditions.
Depending on the type of transaction, impact assessment can include identifying and addressing impacts on adjoining pumps or bores, Aboriginal heritage sites, native vegetation, threatened species, wetlands, land degradation, salinity, soil compaction, geomorphic instability, hydrology, water logging, acidity, contamination and water quality, in addition to consideration and resolution of any lodged objections. In some cases where significant risks are identified, WaterNSW may require the applicant to commission third-party experts to determine the extent of those risks and how they might be mitigated.

Applications determined by IPART which are identified as ‘low risk’ are processed with a rules-based assessment which does not require the above detailed impact assessment.

Lower fees are charged for transactions which are identified as ‘low risk’.

The Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (WAMC) charges are determined by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) under the IPART Act and the WAMC determination. The reasons are:

1. Section 11 of the IPART Act gives IPART a standing reference to conduct investigations and make reports to the Minister administering the IPART Act on the determination of the pricing for a government monopoly service supplied by a government agency specified in Schedule 1 of the IPART Act.
2. The Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (Corporation) is listed in Schedule 1 of the IPART Act.
3. The services which are declared as government monopoly services under clause 3 of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (Water Services) Order 2004 are services supplied by the Corporation which involve:
   (1) the making available of water;
   (2) the making available of the Corporation’s water supply facilities; or
   (3) the supplying of water, whether by means of the Corporation’s water supply facilities or otherwise, (together, the Monopoly Services).
4. Under section 4(6) of the IPART Act, the Corporation is taken to be the supplier of the services for which fees and charges are payable under Chapter 3 of the Water Management Act.
5. In practice, charges for such water resource management activities are made as charges under licences, permits, approvals or authorities granted by:
   (1) the Minister under Chapter 3 of the Water Management Act (in areas of NSW in which proclamations under sections 55A and 88A of the Water Management Act are in force); and
   (2) the Corporation under the Water Act (in other areas of NSW).
6. Accordingly, in determining maximum prices for the Monopoly Services, IPART has determined maximum prices payable for these services under various licences, permits, approvals or authorities granted under the Water Management Act and the Water Act.