Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory
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*Estimates - QTON No. E19 -51 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY SELECT COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES 2019-2020 Miss Candice Burch MLA (Chair), Ms Bee Cody MLA (Deputy Chair), Mrs Giulia Jones MLA, Ms Caroline Le Couteur MLA, Mr Michael Pettersson MLA ANSWER TO QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS Asked by Giulia Jones MLA on 18 June 2019: Andrew Barr MLA took on notice the following question(s): [Ref: Hansard Transcript 18 June 2019, p.279] In relation to: MR PETTERSSON: How much of the network consists of unlined cast-iron pipes? Mr Hezkial: That is quite a good question because that is a major concern for a majority of utilities in Australia. We are quite fortunate here in the ACT; we do not have many unlined cast-iron water mains. Most of our water mains are what we would describe as ductile iron cement-lined pipes; they are generally in quite good condition. Percentages are very low. for unlined mains in the system. MRS JONES: Do you know what the percentage is or are you able to provide that to us on notice? Mr Hezkial: I am happy to provide that to you on notice, but I do know that it is a relatively small proportion. ANDREW BARR MLA: The following answer to the Member's question has been sought from Icon Water Limited (Icon Water), which operates as an independent corporation: Icon Water has advised that the proportion of cast iron unlined water main is 1.3 per cent of the total network. Total length of main in Icon Water network is 3,300 km. Approved for circulation to the Select Committee on Estimates 2019-2020 Signature: ~JI:_ Date: 2, .( ,f 'I By the Treasurer, Andrew Barr MLA *Estimates - QTON No. E19 -52 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY SELECT COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES 2019-2020 Miss Candice Burch MLA (Chair), Ms Bee Cody MLA (Deputy Chair), Mrs Giulia Jones MLA, Ms Caroline Le Couteur MLA, Mr Michael Pettersson MLA ANSWER TO QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS Asked by Giulia Jones MLA on 18 June 2019: Andrew Barr MLA took on notice the following question(s): [Ref: Hansard Transcript 18 June 2019, p.279-280) In relation to: MS LAWDER: I will ask about your capital works program. Are you able to provide the capital works program and the budget for your 2019-20 projects? Mr Hezkial: Our capital works program for the 2018-19 financial year is $103 million. MS LAWDER: And for 2019-20? Mr Hezkial: For 2019-20 our target is $105 million. MS LAWDER: What is in that capital works program for 2019-20? Mr Hezkial: I guess that in the past, in the lead up particularly in the last regulatory period for the vast majority of this financial year, our capital works program has been predominantly focused on upgrading major infrastructure, particularly at our lower Molonglo sewage treatment plant. As we move forward in the regulatory period, the focus is I guess weighted more towards the networks. What we are seeing in our capital program are things like the water mains renewals. We also have routine sewer mains renewals. We also are looking at a suite of reservoir upgrades as well as pump stations, just to give you a flavour for the focus of where the program is going. THE CHAIR: Are you able to provide a list of your works to the committee? Ms Breaden: I was just going to say that in our business strategy we document from page 26 our most significant capital works program for the financial year. MS LAWDER: Thanks. What about over the past five years, the actual spend versus the budgeted amount for each year? How have you gone on your capital works budget against actual? Mr Hezkial: Yes, we have that information. MS LAWDER: Is that also in that document? Ms Breaden: Not the last; I do not think the last- Mr Hezkial: Not in that document, I beg your pardon. MS LAWDER: You can provide that? Mr Hezkial: We can provide that on notice. ANDREW BARR MLA: The following answer to the Member's question has been sought from Icon Water Limited {Icon Water), which operates as an independent corporation: Icon Water has provided the figures for the past five year Capital Program Budget compared to actual spend as shown below. Capital Program Budget vs Actual ($m) Financial Year Program Budget Program Actual 2018-19 107.5 103.3* 2017-18 120.4 99.9 2016-17 111.1 98.0 2015-16 87.9 79.6 2014-15 89.8 51.2 *Includes forecast spend Approved for circulation to the Select Committee on Estimates 2019-2020 Signature: ~~ Date: 2( .,. ('f By the Treasurer, Andrew Barr MLA Page 2 of 2 *Estimates - QTON No. E 19 -53 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY SELECT COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES 2019-2020 Miss Candice Burch MLA (Chair), Ms Bee Cody MLA (Deputy Chair), Mrs Giulia Jones MLA, Ms Caroline Le Couteur MLA, Mr Michael Pettersson MLA ANSWER TO QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS Asked by Alistair Coe MLA on 18 June 2019: Andrew Barr MLA took on notice the following question(s): [Ref: Hansard Transcript, 18 June 2019, p.280-281) In relation to: MR COE: Could you talk the committee through what Icon Water's community service obligations are? Ms Breaden: That is the community support program. I assume that you are talking about the community service obligations, which I think are financial obligations. Ms Yau: Do you have our statement of corporate intent in front of you, our business strategy? May I refer you to it? It outlines our main community service obligations. These go to community institutions such as schools, hospitals, charities, places of worship. From an ACT government perspective, the ACT government is essentially subsidised. For those community institutions we have a specific class in our schedule of charges, which means that those institutions get a reduced rate-in some cases nil charge-on water and sewerage supply. Subsequently the ACT government obviously pays for that differential between what is charged to the institution as compared to the rate charged to other consumers. MR COE: Who determines who is eligible? Ms Yau: That I believe is defined in legislation. But we can come back to you on specifically where that is defined. But in our schedule of charges, for those of you who have it in front of you, it is class 4. Specifically, in class 4 we call that churches, religious establishments, hospitals, benevolent institutions or charitable institutions. Then we have schools registered under the Education Act 2004. Yes, it is pretty much detailed in our schedule. ANDREW BARR MLA: The answer to the Member's question is as follows: The requirements for Community Services Obligations are outlined in Part 13 of the Utilities Act 2000. Under those provisions, Community Services Obligations are agreed between the Minister and Icon Water or by Ministerial direction. Schedule 4 of the link Schedule of Charges: Standard water and sewerage services charges 2018-19 details eligibility for the Community Support Program. A copy was provided to the Committee Secretariat. Approved for circulation to the Select Committee on Estimates 2019-2020 Signature: ~£_ Date: .26 .,.,, By the Treasurer, Andrew Barr MLA Page 2 of 2 *Estimates - QTON No. E19 -54 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALlAN CAPITAL TERRITORY SELECT COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES 2019-2020 Miss Candice Burch MLA (Chair), Ms Bee Cody MLA (Deputy Chair), Mrs Giulia Jones MLA, Ms Caroline Le Couteur MLA, Mr Michael Pettersson MLA ANSWER TO QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS Asked by Alistair Coe MLA on 18 June 2019: Andrew Barr MLA took on notice the following question(s): [Ref: Hansard Transcript, 18 June 2019, p.282] In relation to: MR COE: Sure. What actually are the concessions that are offered? You mentioned who was eligible. What are the actual concessions? Ms Yau: I refer you again to class 4, our schedule for those of you that may have it in front of you. Specifically, what you see is that it is quite detailed. For specific institutions there are specific ones depending on which category they fall under. For some it reduces to nil in terms of the charge and for others it would be a halving, so a 50 per cent discount as such. THE CHAIR: As members of the committee do not have that document in front of them, can you please table a copy? Ms Yau: Yes, absolutely. Would you like that now? THE CHAIR: Yes. Ms Yau: We can provide that after, yes. ANDREW BARR MLA: The following answer to the Member's question has been sought from Icon Water Limited (Icon Water), which operates as an independent corporation: A copy of the Icon Water 2018-19 current Schedule of Charges has been provided to the Committee Secretariat. From 1 July 2019, a new schedule of charges for 2019-20 will be available on the Icon Water website www.iconwater.com.au. Approved for circulation to the Select Committee on Estimates 2019-2020 Signature:~~ Date: tb, C. I, By the Treasurer, Andrew Barr MLA *Estimates - QTON No. E19 -55 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY SELECT COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES 2019-2020 Miss Candice Burch MLA (Chair), Ms Bee Cody MLA (Deputy Chair), Mrs Giulia Jones MLA, Ms Caroline Le Couteur MLA, Mr Michael Pettersson MLA ANSWER TO QUESTION TAKEN ON NOTICE DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS Asked by Alistair Coe MLA on 18 June 2019: Andrew Barr MLA took on notice the following question(s): · [Ref: Hansard Transcript, 18 June 2019, p.281) In relation to: MR COE: Why would it be that it is a halving this year? Ms Yau: In terms of the rates? MR COE: The value.