A short institutional and regulatory history of the Australian urban water sector

This paper provides a synopsis of the current regulatory and institutional arrangements that pertain to the urban water and wastewater sector in Australia. A short and selected institutional history of the urban water sectors in the Australian cities of Sydney and Melbourne is outlined, followed by an analysis of the relative effectiveness of the institutional structures in enabling the sector to respond to the challenges faced by the sector in the future.

► Provides an overview of the regulatory and institutional structure that governs the Australian water sector.
► Outlines some elements from the history of urban water institutions that explain current issues for sector.
► Explores the extent to which the current arrangements position the sector for sustainable growth.