ACWA provides members with many benefits but our most important role, is that of an industry ambassador in times of crisis.
Between 2006 and 2008 drought conditions hit Australia and Government authorities moved to stop car washing. ACWA accepted the challenge and on behalf of car wash owners across Australia, the Association’s tireless work and political lobbying saw the industry avoid a wide-ranging closedown.
After a long, dry summer and autumn again this year and with water restrictions already legislated in areas including Sydney, the car wash industry looks set to face the financial impact of widespread water restrictions.
ACWA takes its role as a voice for the industry seriously and we are already engaged in a fight for the rights of your car wash to operate should the country face another drought and the inevitable water restrictions that follow.
Take the current situation with Sydney Water as an example. After providing input into Sydney Water’s drought management plan and negotiating for car washing to receive an exclusion, ACWA received a water restriction” Fact Sheet” from Sydney Water. On the “Fact Sheet”, drive through car washing was listed as a specific exclusion from restrictions.
Subsequent to this, and without warning, the “Fact Sheet” was replaced with a different publication on the Sydney Water website read here which not only reverses their position on exclusion for commercial car washing, it encourages the environmentally damaging notion of home driveway washing.
On behalf of the car wash industry, ACWA has urgently reengaged with Sydney Water in an endeavour to have the decision reviewed ACWA has been advised there will be a three-month grace period before fines apply. Fines won’t be issued until after 1 September 2019.
This is a critical issue for Sydney and other regionally based car wash operators and ACWA will keep members apprised of the outcome of our negotiations. ACWA is asking our Sydney and NSW members to bear with us as we attempt to resolve the situation.
At the same time, the ACWA Water Subcommittee is engaged with SEQ Water as well as water authorities in Melbourne, who are also closely monitoring dam levels ahead of considering their position on imposing water restrictions.
We will continue to work on behalf of members but to do this we need continued support through membership subscriptions.
Of course, ACWA membership is not only about water restrictions and drought, the association provides a host of additional members’ benefits which can be found on the website
Becoming an ACWA Member or renewing your existing membership is quick and easy and can be done online.
To renew membership, simply hit the renew button, enter your credit card details and you’re done!
Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much, and the support of members allows us to strive to protect the car wash industry and the thousands of Australian employed in it.
