Lismore council was asked to refund $2000 bill for undetected water leak

Council will decide whether to credit money to a ratepayer after it was found a leak led to his excessive water bill. It comes as the council makes changes to its policies on water loss.

Lismore City Council will be asked to reimburse a bill for $2000, incurred because of an undetected water leak.

A Lismore ratepayer will hear whether he will get an excessive water bill reimbursed at tonight’s council meeting.

Councillor Adam Guise will call for the council to credit $2000 to a Hillview Drive resident, for an excessive water bill caused by a water leak.

Cr Guise said: “Mr Hickey has incurred an excessive water bill because of a water leak, unknown to him and subsequently rectified by him upon him being informed. He has paid the resulting bills in their entirety despite being above his normal use and should now be reimbursed/credited for the excess amount”.

This comes as the council moved to make changes to its policy on undetected water leaks.

The council resolved in December 2020 to prepare changes to the policy that resulted in a part write off of water consumption charges incurred during a water leak.

A draft of the new Concealed Water Leaks Policy will be presented to councillors before going on public exhibition for 28 days. It aims to provide clarity and help to ratepayers with a debt incurred by undetected leaks.

Up to 50 per cent of the excess charge may be removed from the bill, as well as any interest fees where applicable.

Council staff asked for councillors to make a resolution on whether to credit the $2000 to the Lismore resident as the request for full repayment was “inconsistent” with either the current or proposed policies – the new policy would only reimburse $700 to the ratepayer.

Lismore City Council’s monthly general meeting will be held tonight (Tuesday) at 6pm.