Water Industry Competition Act, NSW
We assisted Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) with the introduction and implementation of the Water Industry Competition Act in NSW. The Act provides for an access and licensing regime designed to facilitate private investment and participation in the production and reticulation of recycled water.
Snowy Hydro/State Water: Lakes R Us' Application for Declaration of Water Services
We recently represented Snowy Hydro Limited and State Water Corporation in relation to an application to the Australian Competition Tribunal by Lakes R Us. This regards the review of a decision by the relevant minister to not declare, under Part IIIA of the Trade Practices Act, certain water storage and release services provided by Snowy Hydro and State Water.
Lakes R Us' application is the first water access application to be made under the access provisions of the Trade Practices Act. It is also the first application to be considered by the National Competition Council and the Australian Competition Tribunal.
Sydney Water's c.$1 billion Sydney Desalination Plant at Kurnell
We acted for Veolia Water, the successful bidder (in the BlueWater joint venture with John Holland) for the design, construction and 20 year operation and maintenance of Sydney Water's c.$1 billion Sydney Desalination Plant at Kurnell.
Wyuna Water Treatment facility at Illawara and Woronora (NSW) - We are acting as adviser to the owners/operator (Veolia Water).
Gerringong/Gerroa sewerage and recycled water project - We are acting as adviser to the builder/operator (Veolia Water).
Camellia recycled water project - We are acting as adviser to bidder (Veolia Water).
Riverland Water treatment plants in South Australia - We are acting as adviser to financiers and infrastructure bond providers (Nab).
Coliban water treatment plant - We are acting as adviser to investor (Veolia Water).
Noosa water treatment plant - We are acting as adviser to operator (Veolia Water).
Perth Desalination Plant - We are acting as advisor to bidding consortium (Perth Desal - United/Veolia/Leighton).
Gattonvale offstream water storage infrastructure - We are acting as adviser to power station operator (Collinsville power station).
Water licensing and regulatory:
Drafting Victorian wastewater biosolids guidelines for the Victorian Water Association
Diversion of the Morwell River for International Power Hazelwood, including obtaining a water diversion licence under the Water Act after completing an extensive Environmental Impact Assessment process with public consultation.
We are advising on groundwater licences for a Yarra valley winery.
We are advising a winery on obtaining water diversion licence for construction of new dams including detailed submissions to Melbourne water.
We are advising International Power on the water entitlements underpinning the Hazelwood and Loy Yang B power stations, as part of the Victorian State Government’s proposed water recycling project to replace towns supply water with treated effluent from the South Eastern Purification Plant to use in the Latrobe Valley brown coal power stations.
We are advising Chiquita in relation to its water entitlements at its Queensland mushroom operations, including the reallocation and subdivision of water entitlements at Darling Downs, and securing water entitlements for a mushroom facility south of Brisbane.
Environment and Water management:
We are advising various confidential clients on their water reduction strategies as part of the Victorian Government’s targeting of the State’s top 200 water users.
We are advising a sand extraction and processing company in relation to a proposal to divert a watercourse, and advising in relation to various groundwater extraction arrangements associated with its quarry operations.
We are advising Melbourne Water on reuse of sewage sludge.
We are advising Lion Nathan on conduct of a national water audit and approach to drought conditions for its winery operations.
We are assisting Goulburn Murray Water to establish a legal compliance system for environmental issues arising from its water supply to one third of Victoria.
We are advising a confidential client on project to address significant groundwater contamination of secondary aquifer in South Australia.