Water services

Council’s 2010/2011 Water services budget reflects a very different situation to this time last year. “In water security terms, this region has come a long way in the last two years,” Deputy Mayor and Water Services portfolio leader Cr Paul Antonio said.

“The water and wastewater operations of council are big business. “Council provides a reliable water supply to a connected population of 135,000 people. Our focus remains on improving the quality and reliability of water across the region.

“Having taken the hard decisions last year and paid a significant cost towards the $187 million pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam, this region now has a secure water supply.

“Council acknowledges the sacrifices being made by ratepayers in securing this long-term water supply.

“The decision to retain ownership of our assets and remain outside the South East Queensland water grid is being vindicated.

“Ratepayers throughout South East Queensland (SEQ) are now learning the real cost of water, as many councils and water authorities increase their water charges to pay for vital infrastructure. This is particularly the case for residents within the SEQ water grid area.

“This year, properties connected to the Toowoomba bulk water supply will see no increase in their water rates and charges.

“However, ratepayers connected to water supply schemes outside the Toowoomba scheme, will see another rise in their water rates this year as council moves to full cost recovery for those schemes.

“The district water and sewerage schemes (outside the Toowoomba bulk scheme connected to the new Wivenhoe pipeline) continue to operate and charge separate to the Toowoomba scheme.

“These district schemes continue on an independent price path adopted in 2009/10 to transition to meeting the full cost of their schemes by 2011/12.

“Council recognises the considerable impost of water costs on pensioners in our community. We are, therefore, introducing a $30 rebate on water connection charges for pensioners across the region.

“The challenge of meeting current potable water and environmental standards bring with it the need for significant upgrades in water and wastewater infrastructure across the region.

“The provision of these projects has been made all the more difficult by the discontinuation of the State Government’s 40 percent subsidy for water and sewerage infrastructure last financial year.

“Almost $83 million has been allocated in this financial year to capital works, operating costs and maintenance.

“Some $15.8 million of that will go to water operations while $8.7 million is allocated to wastewater operations and maintenance. Over $58 million will fund new capital works projects.

“Our wastewater operations include the treatment of approximately 7,400 megalitres of wastewater from almost 44,000 sewer connections and we manage trade waste from more than 1600 trade waste generators.

“Additional funding has been allocated to fast-tracking of major wastewater infrastructure projects worth some $63 million over the next two years. These projects are essential to our ability to service existing properties in outlying areas as well as cater for expected growth.

“Four major wastewater projects, to be completed by mid 2012, have received hefty allocations in this budget.

“The Southern Regional Water Reclamation Facility at Wyreema is a $37 million project over three years. Council has allocated $10.7 million in this budget for design and early construction works.

“The infrastructure required to connect Highfields to Wetalla Water Reclamation Facility is estimated to cost $15.2 million over two years. Council will invest in the vicinity of $10.3 million this financial year for design and early construction works.

“A new sewage pump station at Glenvale will cost council $5.2 million over two years, of which $4.9 million will be spent this financial year. Likewise infrastructure required to connect Westbrook to the Southern Regional Water Reclamation Facility will cost $6.4 million over three years with $3.5 million allocated in this budget.

“Council has allocated $12.7 million to the Kingsthorpe and Gowrie Junction sewerage scheme in this budget as part of a $19.9 million project over three years.

“As a major consumer of electricity, council will have to absorb a 14 percent increase in electricity charges. The total electricity bill for water supply alone is $3.5 million, or 31 percent of the total operating costs for water operations.

“Council’s WaterWise rebate program has served the community well over the past seven years. Now, given the removal of the State Government subsidies last year and the falling off in demand for council rebates in the past 12 months, council has decided to discontinue the water rebates program from today.

“We will continue to focus on improving the performance of our water operations and wastewater treatment plants and collection systems to maximise efficiency and environmental compliance,” Cr Antonio said.

Where the money goes – major capital projects

Program of water main replacements and extensions across the region will cost council $2million. The details are:

Wastewater sewer mains replacements and extensions are part of over $1 million budgeted for wastewater infrastructure in this financial year: