IPART has invited feedback on a draft report on the proposed stormwater infrastructure charge to be levied by Sydney Water for developers in the Mamre Road industrial and commercial precinct, close to the new Nancy Bird-Walton Airport in Western Sydney.
Tribunal Chair Carmel Donnelly said IPART is seeking views on the proposed charges that are primarily designed to manage the impacts of additional stormwater loads from development in the Mamre Rd precinct.
“The stormwater discharge standards have been set to ensure that the Wianamatta South Creek waterway and catchment do not progressively degrade as a result of the development,” Ms Donnelly said.
“Stormwater that is not well managed can cause problems on and off site through erosion and the transportation of pollutants to downstream waterways.”
IPART’s proposed charge of around $850,000 per hectare is lower than Sydney Water’s revised estimated cost to developers of around $1.02 million per hectare.
IPART’s draft finding is that the efficient cost of delivering the services over the next 30 years is around $860 million in total. This includes around:
- $610 million in capital expenditure, which is around $110 million (or 16%) lower than proposed by Sydney Water
- $260 million in operating expenditure, which is around $30 million (11%) lower than proposed by Sydney Water.
IPART’s draft finding of the efficient cost is around $140 million cheaper than costs proposed by Sydney Water as it is based on an alternative design for managing stormwater that would still meet the discharge standards. The key difference from Sydney Water’s design is reduced basin areas and increased depth, which results in a more cost-efficient design and land acquisition savings.
Interested parties can have their say on the proposed charge, either by making a submission on the IPART website before 18 October 2024 or by attending an online public hearing on 15 October 2024. IPART will consider all feedback and comments before providing a final report to the Minister for Water in November 2024.