Under the Water Industry Competition Act 2006, an applicant may seek access to water industry infrastructure services by lodging a coverage declaration application with IPART. An applicant may also seek to revoke a coverage declaration by lodging a revocation of coverage declaration application or seek that a declaration that a third party may not seek access to a water industry infrastructure service by lodging a binding non coverage declaration application with IPART.
Once IPART receives that application, IPART must recommend to the Premier on whether the declaration or revocation should or should not be made. Once the Premier receives the recommendation, the Premier may or may not make the declaration or revocation.
Owners of infrastructure can also seek IPART's approval of an access undertaking. Sydney Water has lodged an undertaking with IPART.