Category 2 water authorities

Category 2 water authorities are established under the Water Act 2000 to carry out a range of local water activities.

View a list of water authorities and their contact details.

Category 2 authorities have obligations under the Water Act 2000, the Financial Accountability Act 2009, the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019 and the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.

Category 2 authorities should also refer to other sections of this guide for information about the requirements they must meet as service providers.

Role of the board

The board of a category 2 water authority is responsible for the way in which it performs its functions and exercises its powers. It is the boards’ role to decide the objectives, strategies, and policies to be followed by the water authority and to ensure the water authority performs its functions in a proper, effective, and efficient way.

Board appointments

Category 2 water authorities must supply the names of suitable candidates to the Minister for Water at least 6 months before the end of a director's term or within 3 months after a director's office becomes vacant.

This requirement came into effect in May 2019 to ensure boards have the appropriate skills and gender balance.

Annual financial statements

A category 2 water authority must prepare annual financial statements that have been certified by the chair and secretary confirming the requirements for establishing and maintaining the water authorities resource management systems have been complied with.

Annual reports

Each category 2 water authority must prepare an annual report. This report must contain information on their performance.

You can find out more about the activities and plans of category 2 water authorities in their annual reports and strategic plans.

Dissolution or conversion to an alternative institutional structure

Boards of category 2 water authorities have discretion as to how their scheme operates. If they (or the ratepayers in their area) aren't satisfied that the authority's benefits justify its costs, they may seek to convert to an alternative institutional structure:

  • Cooperative – autonomous, democratic association of persons who voluntarily join together and contribute capital to meet the needs of the cooperative.
  • Corporation/company – a body corporate and separate legal entity from its shareholders that operates under federal corporation law and its own constitution.
  • Trust – a relationship where a trustee (an individual or a company) carries on business for the benefit of other people (the beneficiaries).
  • Closed water activity agreement (CWAA) – a written agreement entered into by all relevant registered owners of the land in the authority area about carrying out the water activities for the land.
  • Local government – a written agreement entered into by the local government and water authority to transfer to the local government all or part of the authority's functions.

Before deciding on dissolution or conversion, consider arrangements for the continuation of water services, including how assets will be transferred and managed.

Consult with ratepayers and local government bodies and seek independent financial and legal advice on the implications of any new arrangements.

The Queensland Government, through the Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, will work closely with water authorities and local governments to manage the transfer or conversion to alternative arrangements.

Contact us

For more information about dissolving or converting, write to:

Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers
Strategic Coordination and Economics
GPO Box 2247
BRISBANE QLD 4001
Email: StatutoryAuthorities@rdmw.qld.gov.au

Also consider…