Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694866659691.pdf (Fiji)
STANDING COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES REVIEW OF THE WATER AUTHORITY OF FIJI ANNUAL REPORT 2017 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI Parliamentary Paper No.
80 of 2022 August 2022 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Published and Printed by the Department of Legislature, Parliament House, SUVA Table of Contents CHAIRPERSON’S FOREWORD ............................................................................................................ 3 LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................ 4 RECOMMENDATION ............................................................................................................................. 4 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 4 2.0 COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP ......................................................................................................... 5 3.0 ABOUT WATER AUTHORITY OF FIJI (WAF) ............................................................................. 6 4.0 MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS .......................................................................... 6 5.0 FINDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ................................................................................................. 6 6.0 COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................... 7 7.0 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ..................................................................................... 8 6.1 GENDER EQUALITY ANALYSIS – SDG 5 ............................................................................. 8 6.2 CLEAN AND WATER SANITATION – SDG 6 ........................................................................ 8 6.0 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................... 8 7.0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS E-SIGNATURE ................................................................................... 9 APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................................... 10 2 CHAIRPERSON’S FOREWORD I am pleased to present the Committee review report on the Water Authority of Fiji 2017 Annual Report.
The Committee’s oversight function to scrutinise government departments with responsibility within the committee’s mandate and make recommendations relating to any aspect of functioning, administration, legislation or proposed legislative program, budget, rationalisation, restructuring and policy formulation as legislated under the Parliament Standing Orders.
is Firstly, I wish to thank the Chairman and the Board Members of the Water Authority of Fiji who during the period under review, drove the Authority towards service excellence in delivering clean water and sanitation for all Fijians.

WAF undertook the initiative in response to Government’s Initiatives set out in the National Development Plan.

The Committee noted that the initiative was the central guiding theme of the Water Authority of Fiji’s Strategic Plan 2017–2019.
The Water Authority of Fiji’s response to the Committee was that a Five-Year Strategic Plan was in place for 2020-2025.

The plan basically outlines WAF’s Three Key Strategic Imperatives: i.

Water and Wastewater = Our Assets ii.

Accountability = Culture iii.

Finance = Efficient and Effective Service Delivery This basically showed that the Authority continues to show commitment in growth and providing all Fijians access to better and efficient service delivery as per SDG 6, CLEAN WATER AND SANITISATION.
Overall, the performance of the Water Authority of Fiji during the period under review was satisfactory despite of the existing aged underground pipes and infrastructure with the fluctuating system pressure though out the network.

Last but not the least, I wish to extend my appreciation to all the Honourable Members of the Committee who were part of the successful compilation of this bipartisan report namely Hon.

Jale Sigarara, Hon.

Alexander O Connor, Hon.

Mitieli Bulanauca and Hon.

Jese Saukuru.


On behalf of the Committee, I also extend my appreciation to the Secretariat Staff for their timely support in the compilation and preparation of this report.

------------------------- Hon.

Sanjay Kirpal Chairperson.


3 LIST OF ACRONYMS ADB CSA EIB NDP SDG WAF Asian Development Bank Commercial Statutory Authority European Investment Bank National Development Plan Sustainable Development Goal Water Authority of Fiji RECOMMENDATION The Standing Committee on Natural Resources has conducted a review of the Water Authority of Fiji Annual Report 2017 and recommends that Parliament take note of its report.
1.0 INTRODUCTION The Water Authority of Fiji 2017 Annual Report was referred to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources on Monday 04th April, 2022 during the sitting of parliament and referred to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources for scrutiny.
The committee proceeded with its mandatory function legislated under Standing Order 109(2) (c) which allows the Standing Committee on Natural Resources to examine matters related to forestry, agriculture, mining, environment, fisheries, water and marine services.
Standing Orders 110(1)(c) further authorizes the Standing Committee to scrutinize the government departments with responsibility within the committee's subject area, including by investigating, inquiring into, and making recommendations relating to any aspect of such a department's administration, legislative program, budget, rationalization, restructuring, functioning, organization, structure and policy formulation.
legislation or proposed A standing committee must report to parliament any other matter referred to or initiated by the committee, as soon as it has completed its considerations and deliberations as stipulated under SO 121 (1) (b).

The members proceeded with its deliberations on the WAF’s 2017 annual report and collected written evidences from the Authority.
Evidences collected were the written responses from the Water Authority of Fiji in response to the written questions put forth by the committee members.

Pertinent questions on issues relating to the operations of the Authority in 2017 were raised by the committee members which were then collated as committee findings to be presented to parliament for enactment.

4 2.0 COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP The substantive members of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources are as follows: Hon.
Sanjay Kirpal Chairperson Hon.

Jale Sigarara Deputy Chairperson Hon.

Mitieli Bulanauca Opposition Member Hon.

Alexander O’Connor Government Member Hon.

Jese Saukuru Opposition Member 5 3.0 ABOUT WATER AUTHORITY OF FIJI (WAF) The Water Authority of Fiji is a Commercial Statutory Authority (CSA) that was formed by the Government of Fiji, under the WAF Promulgation 2007, in order to provide environmentally sound, sustainable, efficient and effective water and wastewater services.
Following the 2009 Government reforms to strengthen the then Water and Sewerage Department (WSD) in preparation for the transition from Government Department to an autonomous organization, WAF was established with effect from 1st January 2010 as a new CSA, officially taking over all responsibilities, functions and operations previously undertaken by WSD.

We report to the Minister for Public Enterprise and the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.
WAF is responsible for providing access to quality drinking water and wastewater services to over 147,000 residential and non-residential metered customers, reaching over 735,000 people nationwide, with an area of operation that covers 18,274 square kilometers with a water and wastewater network of more than 4,200 kilometers of pipes.
4.0 MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS  Water Authority of Fiji launches its new Strategic Plan 2017–2019;  Carbon Credits for Greenhouse Gas Reduction – WAF claims $350,000 from ADB by reducing emissions at 22,000 tones;  WAF receives an award at the 2017 Global Water Awards for its Water Champion Programme;  WAF receives US $31 million grant from the Green Climate Fund, a component towards US $405 million investments from Fijian Government, ADB and EIB to develop the Suva- Nausori Water Supply system, which would result in improved water services for close to 400,000 people;  WAF is the first water utility in the Asia-Pacific region to pilot Aqua rating, a utility benchmarking tool;  WAF completes 17 rural projects with installation of Ecological Purification Systems.
5.0 FINDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE The Committee was grateful to WAF for undertaking an approach to build upon the future of the Water Authority of Fiji.

WAF builds on employee knowledge over time together with the Fijian Government’s goals to pave the way for the future.

The drive towards service excellence in delivering clean water and sanitation for all Fijians is the central guiding theme of this Strategic Plan 2017–2019.

i.

Outdated annual report 6 ii.


In 2017, WAF launched its Strategic Plan 2017– 2019.

However, the Committee noted that WAF has its new strategic plan for 2020 – 2025. iii.

There is a need for mechanisation to enhance service delivery.

WAF to consider purchasing their own machinery for quick fix and waste management.

iv.

WAF’s focus into the liquid trade waste has been to raise awareness and provide advice to ensure the business customers are aware of their business obligations.
v. The Committee noted that there was no Gender breakdown provided in the 2017 annual report.

6.0 COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDATION 1 The Committee recommends that WAF provides timely submission of annual reports to parliament.

RECOMMENDATION 2 The Committee recommends that WAF adheres to the 2020 – 2025 Strategic Plan RECOMMENDATION 3 Government to consider decreasing duty and taxation on imports of machines used in quick fix and waste management i.e.
pulverizes, mulchers, compactors, crushers, shredders and extruders.

RECOMMENDATION 4 Ensure stakeholders involve enforcement officers to monitor trade waste intrusion into water ways particularly in industrial areas.

RECOMMENDATION 5 The Water Authority of Fiji to provide a Gender breakdown in its future annual reports.
7 7.0 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 7.1 GENDER EQUALITY ANALYSIS – SDG 5 The Fiji Parliament Standing Orders to consider gender equality and ensure that the impact on both men and women is exploited in all matters.” SO110 (2): Where a committee conducts an activity, it shall ensure that full consideration will be given to the principal of gender equality so as to ensure all matters are considered with regards to the impact and benefit on both men and women equally.
However, the committee noted that there was no clear breakdown of gender provided by the Water Authority in 2017.

7.2 CLEAN WATER SANITATION – SDG 6 The Committee noted that in 2017 the Authority had implemented NDP targets in line with SDG 6 which states “access to clean and safe water in adequate quantities to urban, rural and maritime populations”.

8.0 CONCLUSION The committee commends the Authority through its achievements and initiatives in the 2017 fiscal year.
8 9.0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ E-SIGNATURE The Members of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, hereby agree with the contents of this report.

Members of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources Hon.

Sanjay Kirpal, Chairperson E-Signature Hon.

Jale Sigarara, Deputy Chairperson Hon.

Alexander O’Connor, Government Member Hon.

Mitieli Bulanauca, Opposition Member Hon.

Jese Saukuru, Opposition Member .


9 APPENDICES Published written evidence Written evidence and supplementary information was received from the Water Authority of Fiji and can be viewed on the Parliament website at the following link: http://www.parliament.gov.fj/committees/standing-committee-on-natural-resources/ 10