Full description
The Brisbane Water County Council was constituted on 16 October 1942 under the Local Government Act 1919 (Act No.41, 1919) to supply electricity to the Shires of Erina and Woy Woy and the Gosford Municipality.
The role of the County Council included the following:
- The construction extension, protection, maintenance, control and management of works for the supply of electricity;
- The supply and installation of electrical fittings and appliances (including the power to purchase, generate, manufacture or obtain electricity or electrical fittings and appliances for sale or hire;
- To borrow money for the construction of works and provision of services or to enable any other role of the County Council to be performed;
issue debentures, mortgage deeds or bonds for securing the repayment of money borrowed;
- To levy a loan rate in connection with any loans raised;
- To grant permission for other parties to supply electric current to the public;
- To lay and erect pipes, wires, poles and other apparatus under or over a public place; and
- To grant permission to any person to construct, lay, suspend or otherwise place rails, pipes, wires, cables, tunnels or structures under or over any public place for the supply of electric current. (1)
The assets and liabilities of the Trading Undertakings of the constituent councils were transferred to the County Council on 1 January 1943 when trading commenced.
The County Council consisted of seven representatives – three from Erina Shire and two each from Woy Woy Shire and Gosford Municipality.
Initially the electricity was supplied in bulk from the Railway Department at Newcastle, by 1953 it was supplied by the Electricity Commission of New South Wales.
Erina Shire and Woy Woy Shires were abolished in December 1946 and the Constitution of the County Council was altered to consist of three representatives each from Wyong and Gosford Shires although the boundaries of the County council remained substantially unchanged. (2)
The restructure of electricity distribution areas in New South Wales to reduce the number of electricity councils was implemented on 1 January 1980. Under the Gas and Electricity (Sydney County District) Amendment Act 1979 (Act No.184, 1979), which amended the Gas and Electricity Act 1935 (Act No.42, 1935), Brisbane Water County Council was abolished on 1 January 1980. This resulted in Brisbane Water, St George, and Mackellar County Councils amalgamating with the Sydney County Council. (3)
Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette No.138, 16 October 1942, p.2772.
2. NRS-9614 [7/1339B] Annual Reports Brisbane Waters Electricity 1943-.
3. Report of the Energy Authority of New South Wales for the year ending 30 June 1980, p.29.
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