The Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) is a statutory corporation representing the Crown. It was established by the NSW Government in 1999 under the Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998.
The Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998 defines the roles, functions and objectives of the SCA.
The role of the SCA is to:
- manage and protect the catchment areas and catchment infrastructure works
- supply raw water
- regulate certain activities in or affecting catchment areas.
The principal objectives of the SCA are to:
- ensure that the catchment areas and catchment infrastructure works are managed and protected to promote water quality, protect public health and safety, and protect the environment
- ensure that water supplied by the SCA complies with appropriate quality standards
- conduct its activities in compliance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development where those activities affect the environment
- manage the SCA’s catchment infrastructure works efficiently, economically, and in accordance with sound commercial principles.
The SCA’s activities are funded by the sale of raw water to customers at prices determined by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
