November 8, 2024
South Burnett Regional Council CEO Mark Pitt has assured residents they will not have to pay new plumbing charges this month.
Mr Pitt issued an official statement (see below) after a storm erupted on social media when a letter was sent from Council to some South Burnett residents about new annual fees.
Mr Pitt was on leave when the letter, detailing fees for premises with Household Sewerage Treatment Plants (HSTP) and / or Backflow Prevention Devices installed, was issued.
The letter explained the annual fees – ranging from $30 to $60 – were to cover the cost of Council maintaining up-to-date registers of these installations, something required under State legislation.
“In complying with this legislation, Council during its 2024-25 Budget meeting resolved to commence charging fees for the Backflow Prevention devices and introduce a new annual HTSP fee,” the letter stated.
The reaction on a local community Facebook page was immediate:
Are they going to service and pump it out for that charge. They bloody wanta. I’ll be telling them where they can stick that bill, cheeky buggers aye.
So you pay $100 maintenance every 3 months and now a $60 process fee and an extra $30 for blowback prevention. Think the council needs to maintain the system themselves.
Apparently out here at Tarong neighbours on that system are being slugged $60 and aren’t even on town water … It’s bullshit
$60 To treat our own water and waste. This is not fair. The cost will not doubt go higher each year. Added on to the South Burnett already exorbitant rates !! Talk about a money grab
Funny how they get elected then throw you under bus. Don’t trust promises. Have a good memory
Must have been on the books before the council election and no one said a word? Wonder why?
Reacting to the uproar, Mayor Kathy Duff posted on Facebook on Wednesday night:
Hi Everyone. Apparently Council has sent letters out about backflow devices. I have spoken to the CEO and this should not have happened. There will be no action taken until a full report has been brought back to Council. Please hold off until we can get further information which will be after the November Council Meeting. Thanks, Kathy
On Friday, Mr Pitt issued the following statement:
Recently, and during my absence while on leave, a letter was issued which had not undergone the required checks in Executive Services.
As Chief Executive Officer, I take responsibility for the issuance of any official correspondence.
It is important to note that no invoices will be issued or fees charged in November as was inferred in the correspondence.
There are extensive conversations and community consultation to be undertaken before any such introduction of regulatory action.
The intention is to bring South Burnett Regional Council in line with other Councils in regard to statutory requirements and legislation, and a recent audit of our internal registers has found a deficit in this area, which brought about these actions.
Internally, steps are being taken to address process issues with bulk mail outs and we thank constituents for their forbearance, and sincerely regret any anxiety this may have caused.
On behalf of Council, I advise a report will be presented to the November Ordinary Meeting of Council.
I must reiterate that no action will be taken in this calendar year and any further steps will be considered, and with full community consultation.
No action will be taken this year… THIS YEAR.
If there is one thing I’ve learned about councils after being a ratepayer for 40 years, is action is ALWAYS taken… no matter how much *consultation* is mooted, the fee always comes.
Now, does this include household septic tanks? Does this mean those of us who DO NOT use the actual sewage system AT ALL will still have to pay?
What next? Oh they have a garage, and they don’t park on the street. I know, let’s charge them for parking in their own place!
Meanwhile, we will continue to make them mow the nature strip FREE of charge and if they don’t, we will fine them!!
(We also have *water headworks* and it is ALWAYS charged, even if you run off only tank water. Goodness, can’t let people who are actually NOT using our services NOT pay!)
I already have to contribute to things I never use, such as Parks and Pools, while the thing I DO USE, the local road, is a corrugated dangerous mess, with promises to grade being moved further and further back.
In this latest sewage money grab, what next, a charge for each pedestal?
Honestly there must be someone in the Council sitting there just thinking up any and every possible way to squeeze more money out of ratepayers, while the cost of living crisis slowly crushes the low-income people.
As to the Promise of *no rate rises* Ms Duff stood on, what do you think happened to my rates? Yes, UP at the next notice.
And to think, I used to be sad for my friends at Warwick which was the highest rated shire in QUeensland… NOT any more.
My rates have now reached their heights and take 20 per cent of my pension, and that’s WITH the discounts!
So disappointing. Why do these people who promise everything before the elections knowing already that they are not going to keep them. I guess I was naive and didn’t realise that that did not apply to this council.
When you read the article and the Council letter:
“required under State legislation.”
Council is being forced to enforce fees regulated by State Government in line with other areas of the State. These fees are already implemented in surrounding Council areas.
These fees are necessary for Council to ensure that home owners are following environmental requirements. For example: making sure raw, untreated home waste effluent is not being released into yards – soaking into the ground and then running off into water collection areas!
I personally don’t want my neighbour’s waste just laying around untreated!!
Sure Council didn’t communicate this well, but let’s get the facts before we start Council bashing for something that’s necessary but out of their control.
One issue that was not made clear is the size of the property.
Anyone with 5 acres or more certainly should not be in the position of sewage water running off on to a neighbouring property. Those in a town situation, maybe, however I object to the idea that now people on larger acreages may be subject to a costing.
I can assure that my sewage system soaks in perfectly within the confines of my yard, which consists of approx 2 acres. There is no problem with run-off, tested up to 8 inches in one day (*Cyclone Yasi*).
The fee needs clarification.
If it’s only attached to town rates, and not rural or rural residential, which have PLENTY of space, that’s ok, however, like every other charge, I’m sure the non-users will be forced to pay for the users; just as I am forced to pay for a recycling bin that goes out twice a year, and many on tanks, still have to pay for water headworks.
Council has promised to clarify the position at its November meeting but our understanding is that old-style septic systems are NOT affected by this; it is only properties with their own household treatment plants.
My son has the same system in Ningi and he isn’t charged for this rubbish.
Susan, we will be running a news story this week that explains why private property owners will not be charged in the South Burnett, either, only commercial operators.