Water Management At Centre Of Price Increase

Gympie Regional Council will increase the prices of water at water fill stations and standpipes throughout the region after the motion was endorsed at this morning’s Ordinary Meeting.

Prices will increase to $5.50 per kilolitre at all water fill stations and standpipes from 1 February 2021.

“This is about water demand management,” said Mayor Glen Hartwig.

“The Gympie region is still technically drought declared and although rain is predicted, it has not yet arrived.

“The water standpipes and water fill stations were established when many in our community were doing it tough during long periods without rain.

“What we are finding now is many water carriers from outside the region are travelling to our region, taking advantage of our very low water prices and servicing ratepayers and residents on the Sunshine Coast or greater Wide Bay.

“Even with this price increase we are still very much on the cheaper side,” Mayor Hartwig said.

Gympie Regional Council has recently reviewed its water restriction levels and on 14 October 2020, Amamoor had its water restriction level increased from Level 3 to Level 5 due to the extremely low level of water in the Amamoor Creek.

This was the only water scheme in the Gympie local government area that had a change to its water restriction level; however, many areas are now very dry. Council will be working with the community to ensure the region’s water resources are appropriately managed.