Central Coast Council is encouraging community members to have their say on the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s (IPART) draft determination on water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing for the Central Coast released today (15 March 2022).

IPART’s draft prices would see the combined yearly bill for a typical household increase by approximately $200 on 1 July 2022 and then by around $49 per year, before inflation, until 2025-26.

Council Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said Council encourages community members to provide feedback directly to IPART through their consultation process and a Public Hearing that will be held on 5 April 2022.

“Council’s pricing submission to IPART was shaped by community feedback and we’re now encouraging locals to review the draft determination for our region and provide feedback directly to IPART,” Mr Loader said.

“IPART will consider all community responses, which can be provided online or by attending the Public Hearing, before releasing their final determination on Central Coast water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing on 24 May 2022.

“This pricing change is vital to ensure the maintenance and development of critical infrastructure and to meet the service levels our community expects.”

Council is currently reviewing IPART’s draft determination and will provide detailed feedback as part of the consultation process.

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the Central Coast community should take advantage of this final opportunity to have their say on water, sewerage and stormwater drainage prices for the next four years.

“IPART’s draft determination on water prices is out and we’re calling on the local community to once again have their say – this time directly to IPART through their current community consultation process.

“The Central Coast currently has the lowest water prices in NSW and we must return to pricing levels that will ensure we can meet the needs of our community.

“Local residents will also be aware that we are going through a separate IPART process to keep ordinary rates at their current level for an additional seven years in order to maintain service levels and meet the requirements of necessary emergency loans.

“It is important to note that our rates submission to IPART is not connected in any way to this draft IPART determination on our water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing.”

Community members can have their say on the draft water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing determination for the Central Coast by visiting IPART’s website.

ENDS

Key features of the draft determination

• The combined yearly bill for a typical household would increase by around $200 on 1 July 2022. The bill would then increase by around $49 per year, before inflation, until 2025-26.
• Price increases would be phased in over the next four years to give customers more time to manage the impact.
• IPART has carefully balanced customer concerns about price increases with the need to ensure Council has enough funding to improve its delivery and network operations and maintain its assets.

Key dates

• IPART’s draft determination on water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing for the Central Coast – 15 March 2022
• IPART’s Public Hearing – 5 April 2022
• IPART’s final determination on water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing for the Central Coast – 24 May 2022