How much are you willing to pay for improved water and sewer services?
Central Coast Council wants to know before it submits its next pricing proposal to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
“This is your opportunity to influence your services and future water rates for our next pricing structure,” a Council spokesperson said.
“Community feedback will also help inform what optional investment projects are included in the next IPART pricing proposal impacting services in 2026–2031.”
Council will submit its pricing proposal in September 2025.
In the meantime, residents recently have been asked to register their interest to attend a community forum in either Wyong or Gosford.
But if you missed that, you can complete an online survey, which started on Tuesday, April 22.
Also coming are community pop-ups where residents can talk to council staff.
The pop-ups are planned for Erina Fair outside Erina Library from: 9am-2pm, on April 29; Tuggerah Westfield from 1pm-8pm on May 1;
Bateau Bay Square from 8am-3pm on May 3;
Deepwater Plaza Woy Woy from noon-5pm on May 6; and Lake Munmorah Shopping Centre from noon 6pm on May 8.
“To help ensure we’re hearing from across our community, industry and consumer groups have also been invited to participate in targeted consultation as part of phase 4 of this project,” Council said.
A report from phase three noted that community input was required to help understand customer values and desired outcomes, engagement preferences and appetite to pay for improved service levels.
Residents in phase three responded to the question “imagine” with ideas such as a “water usage app that provides notifications and allows you to track your usage”: and complained about the smell around Kincumber treatment plant especially on Fridays.
IPART set the current prices in 2022 from a council submission: water bills increased by $80 (6%) in 2023-24, $106 (8%) in 2024-25 and $9 (1%) in 2025-26, as well as by inflation.
The current community consultation will help Council with its submission for the next price rise.
In October, IPART will provide feedback on Council’s proposal and in November residents will be able to attend a public hearing about the proposal.
Then in March 2026, IPART will release a draft decision on the proposed price increases.
The Central Coast has a population of 348,930 people and the water and sewer system includes three dams, three weirs, three water treatment plants, more than 50 reservoirs and more than 5,010 kilometres of pipeline.
The sewer network consists of over 2660km of sewer mains connecting houses, businesses and public facilities to 324 pumping stations and 8 sewerage plants.
Council services more than 139,000 homes and businesses.
The latest on-line survey closes on May 11 at www.yourvoiceourcoast.com/future-water-and-sewer-service-options
Merilyn Vale
Council went through a similar process four years ago which led to water rates increasing 51% in just three years.
If you read the consultants’ report from back then, participants were fed Council spin before being asked leading questions such as whether or not they are prepared to pay X dollars extra week for various listed improvements. The results were then aggregated using a flawed methodology.
The outcome was that water rates increased 51% in three years, but IPART customer satisfaction surveys demonstrate the promised improvements never materialised.