Costing manual

On 8 December 2016, we approved the draft costing manual proposed by Aurizon Network. The draft manual, submitted on 28 October 2016, sets out how Aurizon Network will prepare its below-rail financial statements.

We received two submissions on the draft manual, which are available below, as are the approved costing manual and a letter to Aurizon Network confirming the approval.

The cost allocation manual sets out the accounting procedures to be applied by Aurizon Network to provide information on costs and revenues for its declared services.

The below-rail statements prepared and audited in compliance with the costing manual may inform the review of Aurizon Network’s draft access undertakings, but they do not determine the maximum allowable revenue.

Aurizon Network submitted a proposed costing manual in July 2015. We sought stakeholder comments, particularly on the level and type of information stakeholders consider needs to be provided in the financial statements and how this should be articulated in the costing manual.

The review of the costing manual did not affect the UT4 maximum allowable revenue.

We received initial submissions on Aurizon Network’s July 2015 costing manual from Anglo American, the Queensland Resources Council and Vale in October and November 2015. The submissions can be accessed below.

Revised draft

Aurizon Network on 28 October 2016 submitted a revised draft costing manual for the QCA to consider under section 159 of the QCA Act.

It was anticipated that the costing manual, once approved by the QCA, would be used to prepare regulatory financial statements for 2013-14, 2014–15 and 2015–16. The manual might also be used for 2016-17 accounts for Aurizon Network’s declared service.

Stakeholders were invited to comment on the proposed costing manual by 24 November 2016.