Discussion Papers
Procurement maturity in the water industry
The Australian Water Association has
collaborated with KPMG to examine the impact
of procurement in enhancing water security.
Procurement plays a key role in the continuity
of water supply through the provision of plant,
equipment, spare parts and contractors to
perform capital works and deliver operational
support. Having a mature procurement capability
can help utilities attain value for money, security
of supply, commercial risk protection and meet
social obligations. These benefits materially
contribute towards utilities being able to provide
affordable water to communities.
For this report, a series of interviews were
undertaken with utility companies and suppliers
to assess the sector’s procurement maturity.
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United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The Australian Water Association is working closely with stakeholders across the water sector to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in particular, SDG 6.
The purpose of this discussion paper is to provide an overview of the SDGs, to give an understanding of how the Goals are being approached and to ask what approach the water industry could take to them moving forward.
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Emerging challenges and opportunities to secure our water future
The purpose of this discussion paper is to set out the context of the Association’s work for water security and to stimulate discussion on the need for, and priorities in, delivering water security for all Australians.
Thirteen years on from the signing of the National Water Initiative (NWI), water reform in Australia is now back in the spotlight with the Productivity Commission undertaking an inquiry that will assess the need for any future reform.
The
Emerging challenges and opportunities to secure our water future discussion paper provides a snapshot of water security globally, in Australia, and in rural and urban contexts.
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Alternative models for financing water infrastructure
The Association, in partnership with ANZ and law firm Allens, has developed a discussion paper which calls on increased synergies between our water infrastructure needs and the capacity of private sector finance.
The
Alternative models for financing water infrastructure discussion paper presents a number of financing models for water infrastructure projects, and presents case studies on how these models have been used already and their application to the water industry.
This user-friendly guide gives utilities, governments and the private sector a quick reference tool to see the types of funding options open to them.
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Water Security for all Australians
In July 2016, the Australian Water Association has launched
Water Security for all Australians, a new advocacy platform designed to encourage a national conversation on the importance of water and the role we all play in securing our water future.
In the
Water Security for all Australian’s discussion paper the Association defines what
water security encompasses, we take stock of the great work that has been done and is
currently being done around the country to secure water in Australia, and finally we outline
the parties’ water policies to uncover where there may be gaps.
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Coal Seam Gas and Water Regulation in NSW and Queensland
Prepared with the assistance of
Norton Rose Fulbright and the input of AWA members to present to the Queensland, NSW and
Australian Governments.
The purpose of AWA’s engagement with these governments is to
promote further reform and harmonisation of coal seam gas (CSG) regulation around Australia,
with a particular focus on the relationship between the CSG industry and Australia’s water
resources. In pursuing harmonisation, protection of our resources can be ensured Australia
wide with by the implementation of consistent standards.
The discussion paper that provides a comprehensive comparison of CSG and Water Regulation in NSW and Queensland.
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Promoting investment in
the water sector: Discussion paper
Prepared by Minter Ellison
Australian governments are the primary investors, infrastructure owners and operators in the Australian water sector. Population growth, historic underinvestment in water infrastructure, water security, climate change and increasing environmental and public health regulation mean that considerable investment in the sector is needed in the future. Significant capital expenditure is required to renew ageing assets and expand networks.
Given the challenging fiscal environment for governments in the short to medium term, now is an opportune time for governments to consider where public investment in the water sector is most needed, where efficiency gains can be made and whether additional private investment in the sector could usefully free up current public investment for application in other sectors such as health and education.
This paper examines a number of the regulatory barriers to greater private sector participation in the sector. It includes a set of recommendations to governments to facilitate increased private sector investment in the short term and broader reform in the medium to long term.
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