The Legislative Council has overwhelmingly supported a select committee inquiry into TasWater.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Independent member for McIntyre, Tania Rattray, successfully moved for the far reaching inquiry which will examine issues including the delivery of water services and the impact on businesses required to comply with trade waste regulations.
The Council supported the inquiry 11 votes to two.
IN OTHER NEWS
Ms Rattray said there were several important matters that needed scrutiny by a committee.
"Since January 2019 the State Government committed to funding TasWater to the tune of $200 million over 10 years so at $20 million annually it's important that scrutiny occurs," she said.
"What benefit has that funding provided to TasWater?
"I disagree with the assertion from TasWater that Government Business Enterprises scrutiny by the Parliament annually for around two hours is adequate.
"There is also broad interest that local government (the owners of TasWater) will be forgoing dividends due to COVID-19 and the impact that will have on councils."
Ms Rattray said for many months people had been raising concerns with her regarding compliance with trade waste.
"One hospitality business is facing a $60,000 bill for infrastructure that it may not need," she said.
The members of the committee are expected to meet next week to discuss future deliberations.
Independent member for Mersey Mike Gaffney, who with Hobart MLC Rob Valentine, voted against the inquiry said the timing of the inquiry would place more pressure on TasWater when it already was burdened by the impacts of COVID-19.
"Although I am supportive of the inquiry process, I believe that the timing of this inquiry will be both burdensome and stressful for staff within an organisation trying to do the best it can under very trying circumstances," Mr Gaffney said.
"The COVID-19 recovery phase is still in its early stages and I believe we should be trying to assist all business entities until the environment is more conducive to an inquiry - this is too soon.
"Credit to the Taswater Board which decided to freeze prices for a further year and offer a full quarter bill remission to eligible small to medium Tasmanian enterprises."
The select committee will examine:
- The impact of compliance with regulated bodies;
- operations in regard to the impact on business required to comply with Trade Waste regulations;
- the opportunity for re-use water expansion for irrigation;
- the management of sewage treatment including the disposal of the treated waste biosolids;
- the effect of TasWater's dividend policy on Local Government revenue;
- the delivery and timeliness of water services to Tasmanian communities;
- the effectiveness of business operations since the State Government became a shareholder in early 2019;
- the impact of COVID-19 on business operations; and
- any other matters incidental thereto.