No increase to fees and charges for 2020-21
Jun 24, 2020
Riverina Water has frozen all fees and charges for 2020-21 in a move to assist residents and businesses financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- No increase to water access and usage charges for the second year in a row
- No increase to all other charges
- Represents an estimated $600,000-plus in financial relief for residents in the Wagga Wagga City Council, Lockhart Shire and parts of Greater Hume and Federation Local Government Areas
Access and consumption charges will remain unchanged for the second year in a row, while all other fees remain at their 2019-20 level.
“Our mission is to provide our community with safe, reliable water at the lowest sustainable cost,” Riverina Water Chairperson Councillor Greg Verdon said.
“Keeping fees and charges on hold and absorbing increases in operational costs is one way we can support our community of more as it gets back on its feet.
“We are forgoing more than half-a-million dollars in revenue, which help businesses and industry keep their operating costs down and reduce household expenses for the 73,000 people in our supply area.”
Clr Verdon said Riverina Water was able to provide this level of support to the community thanks to good management and strategic planning.
Riverina Water adopted its Revised Delivery Program 2020/21-2023/24 and Operational Plan 2020/21 at its Board meeting on 24 June.
Overall, the plan reflects a strong financial position to continue an asset replacement program of $78.7M over the next four years.
In 2020/21, the total capital works budget will be more than $20.3M. Highlights include over $3.6M in reticulation and trunk main renewals and $900,000 in overall system improvements, such as mains renewal at Cox Avenue in Forest Hill and the Brucedale Reservoir trunk main replacement.
Riverina Water will also spend more than $5.1M on improvements to water treatment plants, $670,000 on new and replacement reservoirs and $715,000 on bores.