Opportunities for Private Sector Participation
Competition plays an important role in the delivery of water services in Western Australia. Customers obtain the benefits of the Water Corporation’s efficiency in obtaining water on their behalf.
The Water Corporation has successfully worked with the private sector since our inception. Today, the private sector directly provides over 90% of the Water Corporation’s projects and 50% of our operating programs through processes that involve competitive selection.
Along the way, there have been many innovations to improve competitive procurement processes. These are achieved by balancing the need to maintain competitive tenders, attracting participation, reducing the cost of tendering and continuous learning from project to project.
Currently, the Water Corporation is seeking to establish new ways to work with the private sector. These could include the private sector owning new water and wastewater assets.
It is generally accepted that the ownership of network assets (trunk mains and distribution pipes) is a natural monopoly and will continue to be owned by the Water Corporation. However new water sources, wastewater treatment and disposal assets could be owned by the private sector.
Water Forever will identify future assets expected to be best suited to private ownership and other ways for the sector to become more involved in water service delivery in Western Australia.
In the meantime, private interests are invited to suggest further options for long term planning that will help us to secure our water future.