4 December 2006
CAIRNS ANNOUNCES PROTECTIONS ON WATER SERVICE ASSETS
Regional Development Minister, David Cairns today announced robust protections for the consumer for dealing with the proceeds from the disposal of any surplus land or other property by Northern Ireland Water Limited (NIWL).
They were unveiled today as part of the launch of the public consultation on the draft Instrument of Appointment (Licence) of NIWL.
The Department recognises that the treatment of proceeds from land disposal is of considerable public interest and the arrangements announced have been developed to take account of the historic and future arrangements for funding Northern Ireland's water and sewerage services.
The Minister said: "There is great interest about how land disposals will be dealt with. I am pleased to announce that the draft licence published today provides robust protections for the consumer on land disposals. Uniquely in water licences in the UK, the Company will be required to provide the Regulator with an estates management plan as a basis for economic regulation of this important area.
"From 2010 when tariffs are fully phased-in, proceeds from the disposal of surplus land will be shared equally between the customer and the company as is the case in England and Wales. This means that half the proceeds can be used as income to contribute towards capital investment and calculating tariffs. Before then and whilst tariffs are being phased-in, all proceeds from the disposal of surplus land will be retained by the company to reduce the level of subsidy which will need to be paid by the Northern Ireland taxpayer to the company during this period."
NOTES TO EDITORS :
1. Under the draft Water and Sewerage Services (NI) Order 2006 the appointed water and sewerage undertaker is required to comply with conditions set out in the Instrument of Appointment (Licence).
2. The details of these conditions are set out in draft Condition K of the draft Licence: Ring Fencing and Disposals of Land.
3. The arrangements set out at Condition K apply to land or buildings apply where the value is over £1m or such greater amount determined by the Department.
4. The draft licence has been issued for consultation on 4 December. The consultation period closes on 9 February. The licence contains a number of conditions placed on Northern Ireland Water Limited, including those relating to land disposals.
5. As at October 2006, the surplus property held by Water Service was as follows:
Offices
Ballymoney Local Office/Depot
Dungannon Local Office/Depot
Banbridge Local Office/Depot (Garage will remain open)
Cookstown Local Office/Depot
Limavady Local Office
Ballycastle Local Office/Depot
Larne Local Office/Depot
Hampden House, BelfastLANDS WEST
Ballydoolagh WTW and Lough Intake
Killea Reservoir
Lough Na Blaney Bane
Bridge Street P.S.
Whitehall P.S.
Ulster Swifts SPS
Victoria Bridge STW
Lissahanley, Strathfoyle STW
Cobhowen Pumping Station
Greencastle STW
Jubilee Hill STW
Aghanloo STW
Longfield
Derrylinn PS
Drumgaughey SW
Lisnafin Park P.S.
Glenhead WPS
Bocea Raw Water Intake
Blackstick Road P.S.LANDS EAST
Craigantlet Quarry
Upper Falls
North Road Service Reservoir
Sandhurst Drive, Bangor
Lands At Mealough Road, Knockbracken
Killough Ponds, Killough
Tannaghmore Reservoir
Pinehill Road, Drumbo
Lands At Woodburn Reservoir
Creightons Green, Holywood
Land at Ballywalter Rd Greyabbey (Meter House)
Lands At Knockbracken Reservoir
Dunsy Way
Land at Crawfordsburn Country Club (Ballymullan Water Tank)
Land at Stoneyford ReservoirLANDS NORTH
Ballyboley Reservoir
Craigahullier IR
Ballyversal
Dungonnell WTP
Gorunee SR
Tully GT
Mucknamore SDW
Attesnahaw BPT
Famentemple Springs
Largy SR
Balnamore STW
Bendooragh STW
Carnstroan SR
Tinaconway SR
Tobermore
Portrush SR
Drones ST
Drumnahiskey STW
Magheraboy wtw
Skerry Rock SR
Fennoyle and Springwell BPT
Ballygooby SPS
Desertmartin STW (Land adj)
Lisnamuck BPT
Mallusk SPS
Craigtow BPT
Knockoneill SR
Croaghmore SR (Land near)
Loughconnolly BPT
Ballyemon Springs
Charlotte St SPS
Cloeytrace BPT
Killyberry SR
Cloagh SPS
Drumbolg BPT
Railway View SDW
Cockle Row, Larne
Straidkilly Springs
Ballyclough Tank and Springs
Ballyliny Road STLANDS SOUTH
Armagh STW - Land at Loughgall Road
Castlehill SR
Loughislandreavy WTP
Ballylane Lough
Mullaghbrack STW
Ballyagholy SR
Glenoran Springs WTW
Corbally BPT
Middletown SR
Lurgancanty SR
Leitrim SR
Garvaghy Chart House
Loughgall STW (Old)
Bells Gate WPS
Cloghinny SR
Magherally Grange Tank
Timakeel (Scotch Street) STW
Clontigora SR
Slievenacappell SR
Blanes Point PS
Glen Villas ST
Kilbroney Upper PS
St Brigids Cottages ST
Tullymacreeve PS
Dehommed BPT & GT
Newtowncloghogue STW
Leitrim STW (Old)
Slievenaman BPT
Moy SR (Old)
Red Moss River Intakes
Yellow Water River Intakes
Babylon WPS
Ballymaginaghy SR
Ballyroney Lands
Beechwood SPS
Benburb SR
Burren STW (Old)
Coalisland PS, Annagher
Cooey SR
Craigmore SPS
Crossgar SR
Dernaseer BS
Drumena SR
Knock S/R (Old)
Lisnasure Tower
Loughgall SR
Loughgall WT
Newtownhamilton STW
Slievenalargy SR & BPT
Teemore SR
Tullyglush ST/BPT
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