Get accredited

To operate as a design consultant or construction contractor within Hunter Water's area of operations for the Developer Works process, you must be listed on Accredited Suppliers Registers.

Please note: This accreditation only applies to suppliers working on Developer Works activities under a Developer Works Deed.

For information about tendering and procurement as part of Hunter Waters Capital Delivery Program, please see our Information For Suppliers page.

Why are we pausing accreditation applications?

We are temporarily pausing new applications so we can review and improve our accreditation process.

Our current corporate standard has not been updated since May 2018. To deliver the improvements our contractors and internal teams need, we are undertaking a full review. Pausing applications allows our team to focus on this work without the ongoing demand of assessing new applicants.

We aim to re-open applications by 1 July 2026, possibly earlier if the work is completed ahead of schedule.

Why now?

We have already added more than 17 new constructors and 10 new designers to the Accredited Suppliers Registers in the past six months. With this recent growth, we are confident the current list has the capacity and capability to deliver Developer Works during the pause period.

Hunter Water has also previously paused applications (FY2024–25), so this approach has precedent.

What if we did nothing?

If we continued accepting applications while trying to update our process, we would risk:

• Delays and confusion for applicants due to unclear or outdated requirements
• Lower quality submissions and longer turnaround times
• Ongoing frustration for our developers and contractors, particularly those seeking feedback or improvement pathways
• Increased risk to Hunter Water due to inconsistent or underperforming suppliers

Updating our standard now will help reduce confusion, clarify expectations and improve the experience for future applicants.

What is changing?

We plan to move away from a continuous application model. Instead, we will introduce defined application windows, open only once every few years. This will allow us to better manage assessments and maintain a consistent standard across all suppliers.

Can I still apply?

No.

Applications will be paused from 1 August 2025 to 1 July 2026. However, we may consider applications in exceptional circumstances, but the standard assessment fee will apply.

Planning to submit before 1 August 2025? You will need to pay a $968 fee before we can start your review.

Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA)

WSAA Certification is a prerequisite for Accredited Designer applications.

WSAA Design Courses (Water and Sewer) are delivered by our training partner Beca HunterH20: wsaatraining@hunterh2o.com.au