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Wednesday, March 26, 2014
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Mareeba Bandits 3rd Grade side were overjoyed to win the grand final cricket match against Port Douglas. PHOTO BY PETER ROY.
860% increase denied
By Ryan Groube
S
unWater has slammed reports that Tableland ratepayers will face an 860 per cent increase in the cost of raw water, saying a decision hasn’t been made. A spokesperson from the State-owned bulk water supplier said the claims made by the Mareeba and Tablelands councils were “incorrect”. “No decisions on future price increases have been determined,” the spokesperson said. “SunWater has advised Mareeba Shire Council (MSC) that it will increase prices for the 2014/15 financial year from current levels by CPI (Consumer Price Index) only.” MSC Mayor Tom Gilmore has hit back saying
SunWater has provided black and white figures in a review foreshadowing huge price increases. In December 2012, SunWater wrote to the Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) following a review of non irrigation water prices. The findings showed that the cost of water would increase from $58.73 a mega litre to $563.54. The review was conducted using Queensland Competition Authority methodology but SunWater has the power to set prices that differ from those in the review. The letter to the TRC read: “... the review has resulted in significant increases to the calculated price, and it is clear that SunWater and Council will need to liaise closely to determine appropriate phase-in or other arrangements to avoid po-
tential price shocks to ratepayers, or immediate budget difficulties for Council.” Mr Gilmore said SunWater “hasn’t at any time told me that the 860 per cent increase was off the table and until they say that to me I will continue to pursue this matter”. “They [SunWater] have thrown a dead cat on the table and either way you look at it it is ugly.” The Mayor has written to State Water Minister Mark McArdle and Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls to voice his concerns about the review’s findings. At the March 19 meeting of the MSC, Council allocated about $9,000 to undertake exploratory drilling at three potential bore field locations across the Shire. Council have been scrambling to find ways to
supplement water supplies in Mareeba, Kuranda and Dimbulah, fearing the possible price hikes. Department of Natural Resources officers have advised council to drill in alluvial areas close to the region’s water plants to determine if there is a suitable subterranean supply. The cost of the drilling is about $3000 for each of the three sites with the contractor to provide Council with an expected bore water flow report. SunWater has a bulk water supply contract with Mareeba Shire Council covering 5760 mega litres of high priority water allocations. Prices for high priority supplies are reviewed annually, with major reviews occurring approximately every five years, in line with the Queensland Competition Authority water pricing review.
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