Central Coast residents can expect their water, sewerage and drainage charges to rise by 2.2% for the next financial year, which Council estimates will see a rise of just over $20 per annum for the average household.
The estimate is based on the average water consumption of 150kL per year and sewer usage of 125kL per year.
In May 2019, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) made three-year determinations concerning Councils’ water, sewerage and drainage charges, for the period 1 July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2022 inclusive.
In accordance with these determinations, councillors voted at their May 25 meeting to increase the charges using the permitted CPI multiplier of 2.2%.
Council’s proposed changes were included in the 2020-21 Operational Plan which was on public exhibition from March 31-May 4 based on an estimated CPI multiplier of 1.9% as the March quarter CPI had not been released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics at the time the draft 2020-21 Operational Plan was developed.
It was noted that the IPART determined fees and charges would be updated once the March quarter CPI was released and the CPI multiplier could be calculated.
The 2020-21 fees and charges are expected to raise approximately $163,901,515 in revenue and are in-line with the IPART determination.
As per legislative requirements the Minister for Water, Property and Housing will review and approve the charges before Council can levy them for 2020-21 financial year.
Source:
Agenda item 2.3
Central Coast Council meeting, May 25