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Unity Water Divides

In a further blow to south-east Queensland householders' budgets, the bills now being received by Noosa and Sunshine Coast residents appear to have little or no relationship to the actual water usage by individuals and families.

Member for Noosa Glen Elmes said that he had been inundated with angry residents demanding to know why they are being slugged yet another tax courtesy of the Bligh Labor Government.

"Unitywater, headed by former Labor Brisbane Lord Mayor Jim Soorley, is the brainchild of the same Labor Government that deregulated the electricity industry which has resulted in a 54% increase in electricity prices.

"Under the previous scheme, water was one of the biggest earners for councils, which they have now lost except for a small rebate. The result is much higher water charges as residents are now finding out, and an unavoidable increase in rates levied by councils that are forced to maintain their bottom line.

"Tens of thousands of dollars was spent to let people know who Unitywater is; well they certainly do now. This constant spin and layer upon layer of unnecessary bureaucracy is further proof that the Bligh Labor Government has been in office far too long.

Glen Elmes would like people to contact him with their story regarding the increased fees and charges levied by Unitywater so that he can present a case to Parliament. This can be done in writing to PO Box 1849 Noosaville BC 4566 or online at www.glenelmes.com and follow the link.

"I have also put a poll on my website which asks the question: 'Should the Queensland Labor Government dismantle the new water authority, Unitywater, and return control of the system back to Local Government?

"The poll information, together with individual examples will help me take a very clear, powerful and immediate message back to this incompetent Labor Government".

Glen Elmes MP
Shadow Minister for Climate Change & Sustainability
Member for Noosa
10 August 2010

Permanent Link: Unity Water Divides
Publish Date: 10 Aug 10

Glen Elmes MP, Member for Noosa : View Full Profile
Suite CB05, Noosa Civic, 28 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
Phone: 07 5449 8988
Fax: 07 5449 9719

Email: Email this business
Website: www.glenelmes.com

Comments / Have your say

  1. Yet again, the bureaurats are blatantly trying to pull the wool over our eyes and as per usual, the mass sheep will simply conform. I say, DON'T PAY! The only way to cut through the bureaucratic BS is through mass action. If enough people band together and withhold their payment, it will force the authorities to do the right thing.
    Jason Lambole of Buderim
    8 of 89th September 2010, 5.57pm
  2. The part of our billing I find most outrageous is the 'New Charges - Bulk Water'. My understanding of our water supply is it comes solely from Baroon Pocket Dam. Our old shire (Caloundra) never needed to buy water. Why are we being charged with this new impost?
    Ken Conley of Minyama
    7 of 824th August 2010, 9.28pm
  3. The part of our billing I find most outrageous is the 'New Charges - Bulk Water'. My understanding of our water supply is it comes solely from Baroon Pocket Dam. Our old shire (Caloundra) never needed to buy water. Why are we being charged with this new impost?
    Ken Conley of Minyama
    6 of 824th August 2010, 9.23pm
  4. The horse has bolted chum
    tony wilson of noosa
    5 of 816th August 2010, 7.21am
  5. It doesen't give you insentive to save water. We have been so careful in what we use & then our bill has doubled.
    B.Quirk of Mt. Coolum
    4 of 815th August 2010, 2.35pm
  6. I live in a Sunshine Coast retirement village -- one of the many retirement villages that abound throughout the area of operations of Unity Water. Our village management has signed an agreement with Unity Water undertaking to try and reduce the water usage to 200 litres per day per resident. I have no reason to doubt that similar contracts have been reached between the water authority and all other retirement villages in the region.

    The way our residents are being asked to economise on water usage, so that we can stay within the target, is to limit, drastically, the amount of water we use on our gardens. Figures have been produced showing the amount of water potentially used during one hour of watering the garden -- between 2000 and 3000 litres, depending on how open the tap is.

    What needs to be acknowledged is that retired folk have time on their hands; and whilst some play bowls seven days a week, visit the RSL to play the pokies, attend UA3, take part in craft and painting classes, play bridge and cribbage, many, probably the majority, tend their gardens: gardening, above all else, is a wonderful therapeutic pastime, being non competitive and non confrontational. Nurturing something in the garden is like bringing up children and grandchildren. One can see and admire the results of one's labours -- as can one's neighbours.

    Our residents, however, have been counselled to change their ways and plant natives because, generally, they require little attention and rarely need watering. Whilst that is a commonsense approach for those over-worked, time-stretched non retirees who live in the suburbs, it will be seen by the elderly as just another limitation placed on their freedom to live what remains of their lives in the way that they want.
    Ian D StG Lindsay of Buderim
    3 of 814th August 2010, 4.28pm
  7. Well my bill says more water has been used. Previously (last year and the year before) it was 250 L/day and this year it is $305 L/day - it's hard to know, but that the rate for tier 1 (up to 600l/day - far too high, incidently) has reduced by more than half while the fixed access charge has increased from $105 to $112. Then it says on top of distribution and retail I pay a rate of .85 for bulk water charge for the amount consumed. So if you add the bulk water charge rate and the distribution and retail charge rate for the amount used the actual charge rate has gone up from $1.10 to $1.35 per unit (whatever that is) and it looks like the total amount I paid for water used has gone from $49.50 to $86.40. Paid but not happy. However, the whole aim is to set a world price for water - the theory being that only by setting a price for water (the market solution to services - Ha Ha) can it be ensured that clean water will be made available to people who don't have access to clean water ( ie at taxpayers expense - while [possibly unintended] the private sector CEOs line their pockets along the way - at taxpayers expense).

    My problem is that we on the Coast have paid and continue to pay for our water supply and we are being ripped off because others haven't and don't.

    An even worse problem is that indigenous and other remote communities that live on ground water drink 'salty' water (mineral laden water) that compromises their health and nobody gives a sh*&^%$ t!

    Asti of the Edge
    2 of 811th August 2010, 7.43pm
  8. We own property in Noosa.The take over of Noosa's and other,water supply etc. is a pig headed,insensitive act of stupidity by government that is so thick skinned,
    they don't really care.Many people are doing it tough right now and UnityWater with their first accounts now issued have increased charges by some 10% above previous council rates.With more to come.
    Roger and Jo of Cairns
    1 of 811th August 2010, 1.48pm
  9. You can't post on an expired article.

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