Water Prices Set to Increase

During a Special Council Meeting on Wednesday, 29 July 2020, Council adopted its 2020-2021 budget which included an increase in water consumption charges across the region.

This charge is calculated by multiplying the kilolitres (kl) of water consumed and the two pricing tiers below.

1st Tier (up to 250kl consumed) - $1.26/kl - (This tier has increased by $0.09/kl) 2nd Tier (after 250kl consumed) - $2.26/kl - (This tier has increased by $0.17/kl).

“Pricing increases are never popular but are often necessary,” said Mayor Glen Hartwig.

“The reality is this Council needs to recoup costs to maintain and importantly get back to a basic standard for our water infrastructure around the region.

“The 2016 Aqua Report highlighted the problem over four years ago. Had we started to address the issue then, we wouldn’t be faced with the decision to increase the cost now.”

Mayor Hartwig goes onto explain that water is a core service of Council. “We have a responsibility to provide residents with safe water and we must get this right.

“Our front line Water Business Unit staff continue to do a fantastic job but we find ourselves in this situation now because advice to fix the problem was not headed at the time.

“The Gympie region is still drought declared, and regardless of the price of water, we need to conserve it,” Mayor Hartwig said.

Water saving tips and advice can be found at www.gympie.qld.gov.au/water-wise.