Marsden Jacob Associates

Marsden Jacob Associates has been engaged by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to undertake a survey of several hundred irrigators who have participated in the Restoring the Balance initiative.

The survey will aim to understand:

o    the impact of the RtB program on irrigators and their farm businesses;

o    how sellers have used the proceeds of water sales; and

o    how sellers apply to sell their water through the tender process.

Marsden Jacob Associates has been engaged by the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government to work in partnership with the Department and the Murray and Riverina RDAs in New South Wales in a ground-up partnership with communities affected by the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to identify a range of opportunities for growth and diversification.

MJA has recently commenced a project for the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence (AWRCoE) to develop an economic framework for recycled water project assessment.  The 18 month project aims to develop a rigorous, defendable and industry accepted framework for non-potable recycled water project feasibility.  In addition to developing the framework, the project will produce new primary research into the value of recycled water, including a hedonic pricing study which aims to estimate the value residents place on access to recycled water in the home, and a choice modelling study of broader societal preferences for non-potable recycled water use.  The project will involve direct engagement with the Australian water sector, including two rounds of workshops in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

For more information, please contact Dr Jeremy Cheesman in our Melbourne office (Ph: 03 9882 1600), or

Phil Pickering in our Perth office (Ph: 08 9324 1785).

For more information on the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence, please visit their website.

The Economic Regulation Authority’s (ERA) final report on the Inquiry into the State Underground Power Program Cost Benefit Study was released today. The ERA’s recommendations support MJA’s analysis into the capitalized value of underground power in Perth. MJA concluded that households in Perth derived a significant benefit from having underground power, which increased as a function of their property value.

A copy of the ERA’s Final Report is available online.

For more information, please contact Peter Shardlow in our Perth office (P: 08 9324 1785).

The MJA Board is delighted to announce that Dr. Jeremy Cheesman has joined the Board as a Director from 1st October 2011. The appointment reconfirms the Board's policy of expanding the shareholding of MJA, and consistent with growth, the number of directors. The appointment not only recognises Jeremy’s leadership role in developing and enhancing MJA’s activities and reputation relative to the Murray Darling Basin and his developing  mentoring role within the firm but also is consistent with our aims of broadening the management skills available to the firm and providing leadership pathways for staff.

MJA is undertaking a socio-economic impact analysis of proposed water use efficiency projects in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin under Round  2 of the Healthy HeadWaters program. MJA’s client is the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management, which administers the program.

Please contact Gene Tunny in our Brisbane Office (07 3229 7701) for further information.

Marsden Jacob Associates (MJA) is currently working with the Western Australian Department of Treasury to review the efficiency of Community Service Obligation payments to the state’s integrated energy utility, Horizon Power.  Horizon Power manages the North West Interconnected System and 33 non-interconnected systems in regional towns and remote communities in Western Australia.

MJA is to consider a range of options for funding Horizon Power’s non-commercial operations, and will involve the evaluation of appropriate parameter settings for determining future subsidy. The work will ensure subsidy payments encourage efficient operation and investment by Horizon Power in the medium term, while providing a commercial rate of return.

Please contact Peter Shardlow in our Perth Office (08 9324 1785) for more information. 

The Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) has engaged Marsden Jacob Associates (MJA) to assist in a review of electricity tariffs in Western Australia and of the state’s energy retailer, Synergy. MJA will work with the ERA to:

• assess the efficiency of Synergy’s operations and wholesale energy procurement functions;

• determine efficient cost-reflective tariff level for non-contestable customers in Western Australia; and

• review the existing tariff structure and make recommendations for reforming tariff classes.

For more information, please contact Peter Shardlow in our Perth Office (08 9324 1785).

The National Water Commission has released its third comprehensive assessment of the National Water Initiative (NWI) - The National Water Initiative - securing Australia's water future: 2011 assessment. The full report is available for download at the NWC's website.

The report reviews the extent to which the NWI has improved the sustainable management of Australia's water resources and contributed to the national interest.  The assessment also reports on impacts on regional, rural and urban communities.

The report finds that the NWI remains robust and relevant in 2011 and has delivered significant, tangible benefits for Australia. Drawing on its findings, the Commission has made 12 major recommendations to COAG to reinvigorate the water reform agenda and fully deliver its economic, environmental and social benefits.  The Commission has also proposed a new suite of incentive mechanisms, together with necessary investments and assessments, to regain and sustain water reform momentum.

Marsden Jacob Associates contributed to 2011 report by assessing the social, economic, and environmental impacts of National Water Reforms for the Commission.

For more information please contact Dr Jeremy Cheesman at our Melbourne office (Ph: 03 9882 1600).

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPAC) has engaged Marsden Jacob Associates to provide monthly water allocation price outlook reports for all catchments in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB). The outlook reports will be used to assist in the management of Commonwealth Environmental Water Holdings. 

MJA will fulfil the project objectives through:

• an examination of historical trends and market conditions in the catchments;

• reporting on current trends in underlying demand- and supply-side factors, and how these factors are likely to affect the prices in allocation markets;

• forecasting allocation prices; and

• consolidating the views of water market intermediaries on probable market conditions over the next 12 to 24 months.

For more information please contact Dr Jeremy Cheesman in our Melbourne office (Ph: 03 9882 1600).