IPART water review: Central Coast Council submission seeks higher charges for storm water

JUST when you thought you were paying enough for water, eyewatering increases in the pipeline could see things get dramatically worse for some Central Coast residents.

Somersby residents (l-r) Wal Shepherd, Sarah Hinde & daughter Liliana, 1, Janette Cox, Wihelmina Hunt, Bob Hunt, & Therese Pisani are hopeful the submission won’t pass. Picture: AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook

SOME Central Coast residents could have to pay as much as 4200 per cent more in water charges if a Central Coast Council plan is adopted.

A group of Somersby residents have brought to light the proposed changes, which are part of Council’s submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

Under the proposed changes to the stormwater levy, properties between one hectare and four-and-a-half hectares in size will pay $1716.96, a 1200 per cent jump, and those larger than that will pay $5427.81 per annum, an increase of 4200 per cent.

Currently all rural ratepayers pay a flat stormwater drainage charge of $124.86 each year, while residential ratepayers shell out between $24 and $40 for each dwelling.

Holgate could be affected.

It’s anticipated that land owners in the Central Coast hinterlands, including the Mangrove Mountain surrounds, Yarramalong and Wyong Creek, would be hit the hardest, while some properties in Holgate, Matcham and Bensville are also likely to be effected.

“This would be devastating,” Somersby resident Wilhelmina Hunt said.

“We’re in the middle of a drought, although we’ve had a bit of rain, but we’re still battling and money is tight.”

“People may not realise that it’s not just up north that got hit by the drought,” Therese Pisani added.

There are large properties at Wyong Creek too.

“Just half an hour up the road there’s struggling farmers here on the mountain and we can’t allow this (levy increase) to go ahead.”

Ms Hunt, who grows pecan nuts, and Ms Pisani are just two out of a multitude residents who are happy to pay their fair share in any justified stormwater levy increase but contend that the proposed charge is far too high.

Janette Cox, too, will feel the full brunt of any rise in rates, but said there was an opportunity for residents to show their objection at a community forum on November 27.

“We hope quite a few people come along and then speak as well at the meeting,” she said.

The rates rise is conditional, according to council.

“If you’ve got something sensible to say then we hope you come and say it.

“We know people who have two properties, so it would be $11,000 a year in that levy alone. Cop that.”

WHAT COUNCIL SAYS

A council spokesman said that the submission was lodged in September and to be part of the forum on November 27, you must register through IPART.

“Council’s submission does propose that very large non-residential / business properties pay a $5,427.81 per year stormwater drainage charge,” they said.

Somersby residents (l-r) Wal Shepherd, Sarah Hinde & daughter Liliana, 1, Janette Cox, Bob Hunt, Wihelmina Hunt & Therese Pisani don’t want the rates rise. Picture: AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook

“The proposal is considered to better reflect the cost of providing stormwater drainage services and is consistent with IPART’s discussion paper and the charges adopted by both Sydney Water and Hunter Water.

“Non-residential farmland properties may be eligible for a discounted Low Impact rate of $110.77 per year as they typically have more than 90 percent of their area designated as agricultural, grassed or vegetated land and therefore meet one of the core Low Impact assessment criteria.”