EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

AMENDMENTS OF THE CANBERRA SEWERAGE AND WATER SUPPLY REGULATIONS

No. 16 of 1959

	Property owners wishing to connect to the water supply system must at present bear the cost of the installation of the service pipes from the main and of the installation of the meter, which is supplied by the Commonwealth.  They must thereafter bear the cost of maintenance and repair of the pipes and of the meter.

	By this amendment, the position will be, as from 1st January, 1960, that, except where the bore of the service pipe required exceeds ¾ inch, the service pipe shall be supplied and fitted by the Commonwealth.  This will enable the installation of the water supply system in new subdivisions to be made right to each lot in the subdivision.  Service pipes exceeding ¾ inch must be supplied and fitted by the property holder.

	Meters will be supplied by the Commonwealth but, in the case of new connections, must be installed by the property holders.  The maintenance of all service pipes and meters will be carried out by the Commonwealth.  The responsibility of the property holder for maintenance will therefore, as a general proposition, cease at the meter.  He will be responsible however, for the cost of repairs to a meter necessary to remedy damage caused through any act of his.

	Those regulations relating to water charges and meter readings are by these amendments repealed as these matters are dealt with by the Water Charges Ordinance 1959, which comes into operation on 1st January, 1960.