AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

AMENDMENTS OF THE CANBERRA SEWERAGE AND WATER SUPPLY REGULATIONS

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

No. 11 of 1980

The amendments of the Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations require that where the Proper Authority has reasonable grounds for believing that an open ended cooling system is connected directly or indirectly to a Commonwealth pipe then the occupier is required to connect a water circulation apparatus to the system within a specified period.  Open ended cooling systems are supplied directly or indirectly from the mains, the premises being cooled by the relatively low average temperature of the water.  The water is not kept in a holding tank for re-circulation but is wasted by being passed straight down the drain.  Butcher shops in particular have used this type of system which can result in large amounts of water being lost.  The present amendments require the fixing of a water circulation apparatus to an open ended cooling system to re-circulate the water and thus prevent wastage of water.  Occupiers will have at least 4 months in which to connect a water circulation apparatus.

Regulation 3 of the amendments of the Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations repeals Regulation 103 of the Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations and substitutes a new Regulation 103.  In the substituted Regulation 103(1) a “water pumping appliance” includes an automatic syphon, a hand syphon, cooling appliance, water circulation apparatus and water-power pumping appliance.  Permission of the Proper Authority is to be obtained to connect a water pumping appliance to a Commonwealth pipe and permission will not be granted if there are reasonable grounds for believing that such a connection would damage the water-supply system.

Provision is made in the amendments for appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal:  where an occupier is required under Regulation 98 to connect a water circulation apparatus, where the Proper Authority refuses to grant permission under Regulation 103 to connect a water pumping appliance, and from the conditions which the Proper Authority has attached to a permission granted under regulation 103.

The Proper Authority is defined by Regulation 4 of the Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations to mean any person appointed by the Minister to be the Proper Authority for the purposes of the Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations.

The amendments of the Canberra Sewerage and Water Supply Regulations have been approved by the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly.