{"id":321180,"date":"2022-07-11T19:45:10","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T09:45:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=321180"},"modified":"2022-07-13T00:28:43","modified_gmt":"2022-07-12T14:28:43","slug":"water-charges-to-rise-60pc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/07\/11\/water-charges-to-rise-60pc\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Charges To Rise 60pc"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gordonbrook water treatment plant … water and sewerage access charges will increase every year for the next 10 years under a plan that will help the SBRC fund more than $80 million in upgrades to the region’s ageing water and wastewater infrastructure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 11, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Burnett ratepayers connected to a town water supply scheme will be charged an extra 6 per cent a year for the next 10 years under a plan adopted by the South Burnett Regional Council (SBRC).<\/p>\n

Wastewater charges will also rise by 3 per cent a year.<\/p>\n

The plan to increase town water access and sewerage charges can be found in Council’s 2022-23 Budget papers.<\/p>\n

Funds raised from both of these increases will help the SBRC build an $80 million war chest which will be used to fund essential future water and wastewater upgrades across the region.<\/p>\n

At present, most households pay an average of $656 a year for a standard water connection and $739 for a single pedestal sewerage connection, or $1395 a year for an average household.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But under the 10-year plan, this will rise to an estimated $2182 per year by 2032-33.<\/p>\n

Much of the region’s water and sewerage infrastructure is now nearing the end of its working life.<\/p>\n

In recent years, the SBRC built a new wastewater treatment plant in Kingaroy and upgraded the Gordonbrook water treatment plant.<\/p>\n

These two projects cost a combined $34.6 million.<\/p>\n

In future years, the SBRC will need to replace other water and sewerage plants in Murgon, Wondai and Nanango.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Council will also be required by the State Government to spend almost $12 million upgrading the Gordonbrook Dam spillway to help minimise potential damage from a 1-in-10,000 year flood.<\/p>\n