Latest Update
28 May 2007 - Media Release
BURNIE WILLING TO WORK TO HELP SOLVE REGIONAL WATER ISSUES
The Burnie City Council believes it can work with other north-west Councils to solve water and sewerage issues without having to join a regional or state-wide body.
The Mayor of Burnie, Aldermen Alvwyn Boyd said that although the State Government was attempting to tie the creation of a state-wide body to accessing Commonwealth funding, no arguments had yet been put to demonstrate that this was in fact the case.
Burnie City Council would argue that the creation of a monopoly state water provider will actually be against the objectives of the National Water Initiative which seeks to develop greater competition in the supply of water".
The Mayor said that the Government needed to come clean with the residents of Tasmania.
The grab for our water assets has nothing to do with state development. It is merely a chance for the State Government to increase its revenue base without having to resort to higher taxes. It is also a strategy to gain our assets and leverage off them to reduce State Government contributions to areas that have not been able to provide adequate infrastructure for themselves
We have already seen an increase in the State Fire Service Levy of 45% over the past two years", Mayor Boyd said. "This is what Tasmanians should get used to with water and sewerage charges if the State Government gets its way
Mayor Boyd said that there was nothing to stop Cradle Coast Water and Burnie City Council working together to resolve issues of water supply.
In fact over the past two years we have been working with Cradle Coast Water in a joint effort to ensure a more sustainable water supply to the Somerset/Wynyard area. Burnie City Council would also work collaboratively with the Waratah-Wynyard Council to enhance sewerage outcomes for the respective areas. This shows that Burnie does not need to be part of a regional body to help provide regional solutions.
Burnie residents have told us they believe each community should pay for the full cost of delivering water to meet their requirements. Given the figures quoted in Monday's Advocate, Devonport and Ulverstone residents should be asking their elected representatives how much of the water rate they pay is used to subsidise other communities.
