Community criticism as Tasmanian government plans to hike water rates for infrastructure upgrades

ABC NEWS (Australia)

There's been strong criticism of TasWater's plan to lift water bills by more than eight per cent each year from next July. But the utility's local government owners say the hike is needed to fund infrastructure upgrades to support new housing and development.

Transcript

00:00Golf Club manager Hayden Roberts is already concerned about bills.

00:06Rates have recently gone up, water looks like it's going to go up, insurance goes up.

00:12But Taz Waters' proposal to lift water bills by more than 35% by 2030 has added to his worries.

00:20He expects it would significantly increase his golf club's current $18,000 annual water bill.

00:28Back of the envelope we're looking at $24,500 raising up to.

00:34The proposed bill hike has frustrated many Tasmanians.

00:38The councils in Taswater need to be able to justify why they are choosing to put this kind of price rise on the bills of the Tasmanian community.

00:48Taswater says it would fund major projects throughout the state.

00:52Hobart's Ridgway Dam would get a $143 million upgrade.

00:57And $31 million would be spent on the Self's Point sewage treatment plant.

01:03There would be $97 million in safety upgrades to a reservoir near Burnie.

01:08And a $355 million overhaul of the Tea Tree Bend sewage treatment plant at Launceston.

01:16The local government association, whose members own 90% of Taswater, says those projects will enable more housing and development.

01:26Tea Tree Bend here in Launceston is a classic example.

01:29If we want big development, we have to upgrade Tea Tree Bend because it's at capacity.

01:34Taswater has 110 sewage treatment plants throughout the state.

01:39But only 9% comply with environmental laws.

01:44Much of its spending over the next four years would be on bringing them up to scratch.

01:49Smaller treatment plants would be replaced with larger, more efficient ones.

01:54We all want increased development for our housing crisis.

01:57We have to have infrastructure that complements it.

02:00We can't build houses without water and sewage.

02:02The final decision on the Taswater proposal now rests with the Tasmanian Economic Regulator.

02:08It has shot down similar proposals in the past.

02:11In 2019, it shrank a proposed 7.9% bill hike to 4.6%.

02:18The regulator is expected to make a draft recommendation in February.

02:23The next step will drop a vote during the Nosfer to Beasley pid.

02:32The next step will be on the running right on the empty desk to get their full profile.

02:34The next step will be in the next step.

02:36The next step will be on the Monday.

02:38The next step is to make the effort of theack of the Pριos feed.

02:40At the moment at the bottom of the National Council.

02:41The first step will be on the National Council.

02:43The next step will remain on the national council at which we start with.

02:46That's the final step, please.

02:47The next step will be on the local council at the next.

02:48The second step will be on the front of the National Council at the National Council.

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