WATER — LICENCE
FEES
911. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the minister representing the
Minister for Water:
I
refer to the announcement on 10 May 2018 to increase water licence and permit
assessment fees for the mining and the
public water supply scheme by July 2018, subject to the gazettal of government,
and the Treasurer's comments —
The additional revenue will be
reinvested in the Department in the form of additional staff and implementation
of digital services to improve service delivery and reduce environmental
application assessment timeframes.
(1) Have many
full-time equivalent positions have been acquired in anticipation for the cost
recovery changes?
(2) What work has
been done on the implementation of digital services to improve service
delivery?
(3) To what
extent will the outcome of the consultation process inform the government's
decision to increase water licence and permit fees?
Hon DARREN
WEST replied:
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. I make the point that this question was lodged on Tuesday, 11 September
2018. On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Water, I will
give the answer as provided on that date.
(1) There has been none.
(2) System
enhancements have been scoped to improve customer interactions with the
Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, promote the uptake of online
services and enhance licensee capacity for self-management.
(3) The
consultation process will inform the government's decision on whether
water licence and permit fees will apply to other sectors.