Updates
11 May 2007 - Media Release
MASSIVE WATER PRICE INCREASE PREDICTED FOR BURNIE RESIDENTS
The Mayor of Burnie, Ald Alvwyn Boyd has today warned Burnie residents that they face a massive increase in the cost of water, if the proposed State Government Water and Sewerage Reforms removes control of the assets from Burnie City Council.
It would not be beyond the realms of possibility that water costs for the residents will more than double. The charge for water for 2006/07 was $207 per household, and this allowed each resident to consume up to 400 kilolitres without any further charge. In my view, the water cost will more than double and the volume allocation will be dramatically reduced thereby increasing the cost per kilolitre even further.
The cost per resident would more than double compared with the average cost of water for most other Tasmanian municipalities.
Mayor Boyd said
Burnie's residents will be significantly disadvantaged by any State imposed reforms.
The Burnie City Council is today launching its public awareness campaign to fully inform its community of the potential impacts of the takeover of our water. I have launched a new website keepburniewater.com.au which will be used to inform and provide updates to our community on all of the matters and impacts of reforms being investigated and determined by the State Government. We encourage every resident to view the website, sign the petition and bring this matter to the urgent attention of the State Government.
We have critically assessed all reform options and we cannot see any benefit or advantage for our residents, with any of the proposed changes. Any change or surrender of control of this critical and valuable community asset will result in increasing Burnie's Water and Sewerage charges.
Burnie's Pet River Scheme has long been the envy of all councils in the state since it was built in 1975. It has the advantage of being fully gravity fed and remains fully compliant since its introduction with additional capital investment, upgrading and maintenance allowing significant growth of the city.
Any legislative removal of our hard fought water and sewerage system is trampling over the good work of our forefathers, who established this city and its fundamental foundations without any help from the State or Commonwealth. To remove that asset would be disastrous.
Mayor Boyd said
if Burnie was forced to surrender its state of the art water and sewerage schemes, water cost increases would be the major impediment followed closely by:
- A likely further increase in Council's General Rates to finance the resulting inefficiencies from losing over 33% of Council's current business activities;
- Loss of Burnie Council's recent investment of over $18 million in a new sewerage treatment plant and associated works;
- Loss of local ownership of Council's Water and Sewerage assets which would cost $160 million to replace in today's values. It appears that any reform will transfer this investment without full compensation;
- Burnie has a valuable, abundant and sustainable natural asset that is fully resourced;
- Burnie has diverted its investment base from other exciting projects to meet tough environmental standards, and this deprival will continue on after the assets have been transferred;
- Water and sewerage services being managed by a body other than Burnie City Council would mean loss of control of where and when investments are made in building new water and sewerage reticulation for our expanding base;
- Potential for loss of employment of local people with centralisation of the services to the south of the state.
We cannot sit idly on the sidelines and watch this State Government seek possession of our assets for the current residents and future generations. I urge all residents to get involved, look at the website, sign the petition, and pass your thoughts onto local members of parliament.
