AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

WATER RATES ORDINANCE 1963

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

No. 15 of 1963

	The Draft Water Rates Ordinance 1963 will effect a number of alterations of an administrative character and of liability for rates to the Water Rates Ordinance 1959.

	Clause 2 of the amending Ordinance will enable an owner, lessee, mortgagee or purchaser, or a person who has an adequate reason for doing so, such as an intending purchaser, to request the proper authority to make additional meter readings.

	New sections 20A and 20B will be inserted to enable the proper authority to issue certificates showing the amount of water used and rates due on metered and unmetered land at the request of interested persons desiring additional readings.

	A new section 26A will be inserted to provide that where land or premises have been acquired or purchased since the beginning of the meter reading year, the person in whom such ownership or lease is for the time being vested shall be liable to pay outstanding rates.  A right will be vested in the new owner or lessee to recover an amount of rates payable by the person originally liable.

	The current section 30 of the Principal Ordinance provides that a certificate of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior that rates specified therein have not been paid shall be evidence that such rates have not been paid.  A new section will be substituted by clause 5 of the amending Ordinance providing that a certificate purporting to be given by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior or a person authorised by him, of facts relating to the liability for rates shall be evidence in all courts of the facts stated in the certificate.

GORDON FREETH