The water which comes out of the taps in many regional towns can vary from drinkable to downright dirty.
For Yass residents, it has continued to be a persistent problem for decades.
It can be put down to a number of issues. Some include the need to update the water treatment processing plant, the need to replace water mains, a consistent approach to mains flushing and the lack of funding and resolution to address the issue historically, from past Councils as well as State and Federal Governments.
This week’s Yass Valley Council business paper states that “In December 2020 an update on progress of the Yass Water Treatment Plant Upgrade Project was provided to Council. This report was provided in May 2021 and identified a single scenario. Council determined that for different funding scenarios, impacts on local household water charges be reported back to Council with sensitivity analysis conducted on the financial modelling.”
Currently there are no financial implications for the report, however it provides analysis of potential funding scenarios over the next 30 years for the Water Account.
According to Council any financial decisions to progress any project highlighted in the analysis will be the subject of a separate report to Council.
The question is…. How much will State and Federal governments pay and how much will those who use the service pay?
How much will users pay Council?
Results of financial modelling of the Water Account based on the identified development needs were presented to Council at its May 2021 meeting. Council resolved to request a report on sensitivity analysis of these based on the investment rates, loan interest rates and the inclusion of the development of an alternate water source.
The United Nations Committee has stated “That the human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses, including consumption, cooking, personal and domestic hygienic requirements. Water, and water facilities and services, must be affordable for all.”
The ‘cost’ of water to residents and ratepayers is yet unknown. What is not unknown is that it will cost a lot.
Current estimations include costings of $32 million dollars, yet this does nothing for the ageing water mains in the ground.
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman faces similar issues in the neighbouring town of Boorowa, also in the Goulburn electorate, where she was a Councillor, Mayor and an Administrator when the Boorowa Council was merged forcibly with Young and Harden into Hilltops. A report is being prepared and is currently with Government agencies on a new water supply for Boorowa which has been estimated at costing over $30 million, similar to Yass. The Member may now be in the unenviable position to have to find well over $60 to $65 million to fix the water supply in both areas.
Yass residents say they have spent thousands of dollars a year on bottled water to avoid drinking discoloured and foul smelling tap water, with some residents fearful of bathing in the water and one has stated that her cat won’t drink it. More to come.
