3000 kb - Mid Western Regional Council - NSW Government

Operating Environment Review
The delivery of sewerage services to the scheme’s customers is subject to a large number
of constraints, requirements, guidelines and other factors, which collectively are referred
to as the operating environment. As part of the business planning process, a review was
carried out to examine how the surrounding environment impacts on Council’s operation
of its sewerage schemes. The six major elements of the operating environment are
shown in the chart below. Progressive review of these elements provides increasing
definition of the operating environment.
Service
Delivery
Institutional
Framework
Future
Development
Sewerage
Scheme
Legislative
Framework
Stakeholders
Corporate
Goals
Institutional Arrangements
There are several recognised options open to Council to structure its institutional
arrangements. The purpose of this review is to anticipate change; to look ahead at
possible future outcomes and ask what strengths should Council be developing so it can
meet these challenges.
The Federal Industry Commission Report on the Australian Water Industry indicated that
there should be an efficient use of resources in the water industry – natural, physical and
financial. Their 1992 recommendations were wide-ranging and covered matters such as
pricing and structural reforms. This has been followed-up by the NSW Government’s
Competition Policy and the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s Pricing
Principles for Local Water Authorities. In addition, the Local Government Association has
issued a guideline of self-regulation, which suggests ways Council can improve its service
delivery.
Mid-Western Regional Council Part C - Detailed Information Page 97
Strategic Business Plan for Sewerage