May 19, 2021
Water access, water usage and some sewerage charges are set to rise across the South Burnett next financial year.
At Wednesday’s planning meeting for the upcoming 2021-22 Budget, Councillors voted to push ahead with small increases in charges for residents.
However, hospitals and schools – which currently pay no rates – will face substantially higher sewerage charges to compensate for the greater strain they place on the region’s wastewater systems.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Councillors voted to increase the annual water access fee by 5 per cent in 2021-22.
This will push up the average cost of being connected to a town water supply by $31 a year (ie. from $624 to $655 a year for residential properties), and somewhat less for users connected to the Proston rural water supply scheme.
Council would also increase water consumption charges for residential and commercial users by 5 per cent.
This means an average residence using 200kl of water per annum will face a $16 rise in water usage charges next year.
However, high volume water users will only face a 1 per cent rise.
Sewerage access charges for vacant land and residential properties are not expected to increase at all in 2021-22.
However, hospitals and schools will face a substantial increase in second pedestal charges (ie. from $207 to $399, a $192-a-year rise).
Second pedestal charges for flats and commercial premises will also rise, but by a lesser amount (from $207 to $251, a $44-a-year increase).
At Wednesday’s meeting, Councillors were told the SBRC will need to invest almost $75 million into the region’s water and wastewater systems over the coming decade for vital upgrades.
They examined a variety of spreadsheet models showing 10-year projections for a range of possible charging schemes.
After a debate that lasted several hours, they selected two models – one for water, one for sewerage – they felt would affect ratepayers’ pockets the least while ensuring the necessary funds could be found.
Several Councillors said they held concerns about the impact the rise in second pedestal charges could have on hotels, motels and flats, noting that owners would have little choice but to pass the costs on to tourists and renters.
However, they agreed to vote for the new charges on the basis the planned rises were as low as Council could manage while still raising the revenue needed for future system upgrades.
The new charges will not apply until July 1 and will not be certified until the Council hands down its 2021-22 Budget.
This is expected to occur on June 30.
