Council has been working towards harmonising all water and sewerage charges across the Dubbo Regional Council local government area.

Since the merger of Dubbo City Council and Wellington Council in May 2016, Dubbo Regional Council has continued using the existing pricing regimes for Water and Sewerage until such time as a comprehensive review was completed.

The two existing charging structures result in residential dwellings and comparable business properties paying different amounts for water and sewerage depending on which former local government area they are located in.

It is proposed changes will take effect from 1 July 2023. Residential properties will see a change to the Annual Water Access charge and the Residential Sewer charge in their annual 2023/2024 rate notice issued in July 2023. Non-Residential properties will also see a change to their Annual Water Access charge on their annual 2023/2024 rate notice.

The change to water consumption accounts for all properties and non-residential sewerage accounts won’t appear until the first quarterly water billing accounts for the 2023/2024 financial year which are issued in October 2023. Unlike the annual access charge, usage is charged in arrears. The accounts issued in July 2023 will be for the final quarter of the 2022/2023 financial year and will be calculated using the 2022/2023 charging structure.

Council at its Ordinary Meeting 9 February 2023 endorsed a single tiered water tariff approach as part of a harmonised Water and Sewer fee structure for the purpose of public engagement. Council has commenced engagement activities to inform the community the rationale behind the preferred pricing regime.

Council’s Draft Operational Plan will be on display for a period of 28 days during May 2023. The Draft Operational Plan includes Council’s Draft Revenue Policy and all proposed Fees and Charges for the 2023/2024 financial year. Council will consider feedback at the completion of the exhibition period.

Council’s Draft Operational Plan will be on display for a period of 28 days during May 2023. Council will consider feedback at the completion of the exhibition period, prior to Council adopting the Operational Plan and Revenue Policy for 2023/2024 at Council’s Ordinary Council meeting in June 2023.

Council considered the Best Business Practice Management of Water Supply and Wastewater Guidelines for Local Water Utilities to develop the proposed uniform access charges and usage tariffs for water and sewerage. The proposed charges have been developed to raise the income required for the long-term financial sustainability of the water and sewerage businesses.

A combination of annual access charges and user charges is applied to ensure the full cost recovery of Council’s operations for water and sewerage services.

Council has undertaken modelling to develop uniform tariffs which provide appropriate pricing signals and to assess the impact of new tariff options on various customer groups.

Annual charges are applied to properties that are deemed to receive a direct or indirect benefit from the availability of the service. User charges are applied to the extent that individual use can be measured and are largely designed to reflect the variable load placed on the system.

The proposed charges will form part of Council’s Draft Operation Plan and Budget for 2023/2024. As Council is proposing to harmonise the charges, all residents throughout the local government area who have access to water and sewerage will have their water and sewerage charges calculated from the same charging structure, regardless of whether they are in a rural or urban area, or within Dubbo or Wellington.

Water Access charges for both residential and non-residential properties are charged depending on the water meter connection size and the number of services to the property. To reflect the level of load each water meter can place on the system, annual access charges are proportional to the square of the size of the 20mm connection charge. This is in accordance with Best Practice guidelines. Water usage is calculated for each property on a quarterly basis based on actual usage as recorded on the water meter.

The proposed sewerage pricing structure for residential and non-residential properties is set to comply with Best Practice pricing guidelines. For residential properties a fixed annual access charge will apply. For non-residential properties, a fixed annual access charge (based on the size of the water meter); plus a volumetric usage charge, based on the estimated percentage of water returned to the sewerage system applies.

Water charges apply to all properties (including vacant land) that are connected to OR are within 225 metres of a Council water pipe and able to connect. The charge is a contribution towards the construction, maintenance and general operations of Council’s water infrastructure including water treatment plants, water reservoirs, water mains and pipes.

Vacant land is charged because the infrastructure is available when you are ready to build.

Water Access charges are levied annually on the Rates and Charges notice issued in July. Water meters are read on a quarterly basis. Water usage accounts are calculated for usage recorded on water meters and accounts are issued each October, January, April and July for water consumed in the previous three month period.

Sewerage charges apply to all properties (including vacant land) that are connected to OR are within 75 metres of a Council sewer main and able to connect. This charge is a contribution towards the construction and upgrading of treatment plants, pumping stations, general operations and maintenance.

Vacant land is charged because the infrastructure is available when you are ready to build.

A residential sewer charge is levied annually on the Rates and Charges notice in July. Non-residential properties are charged quarterly in arrears based on usage.

Water and Sewerage Harmonisation involves Council undertaking a review of the charging structure to be applied from 1 July 2023.

Extensions to Council’s existing water and sewerage networks are not part of the harmonisation process.

Water charges apply to all properties (including vacant land) that are connected OR are within 225 meters of a Council water pipe and able to connect. Sewerage charges apply to all properties (including vacant land) that are connected OR are within 75 metres of a Council sewer main and able to connect.

Properties currently have varying charges based on location. Council is seeking to harmonise water and sewerage charges to bring all residents and businesses onto the same charging regime.

An annual Water Supply Service Access Charge (Access Charge) will apply to all parcels of land where a water supply is available. The amount of the access charge applicable to each property will be in accordance with the size of the water service provided to that property.

An annual Sewerage Service Charge will apply to all residential properties. The annual Sewerage Service Charge will apply to all single dwellings, each parcel of land created under a Strata Title, Community or Neighbourhood Plan and vacant land were sewerage is available.

Non-Residential Properties have a different charging structure with charges for sewerage charged quarterly in arrears as the individual accounts are calculated based on the size of water meter connected to the property, a usage charge per kilolitre and a sewerage discharge factor.

Yes, the Pensioner water rebate continues unchanged. Residents who hold a pensioner concession card are still entitled to a reduction to their water access charge and residential sewer charge.

All customers pay water and sewerage service charges if a water and sewerage connection is available to their property. This is defined by the Local Government Act 1993.

Where a developer installs infrastructure for water and sewerage services, service charges are levied when Council assumes ownership of the infrastructure. These charges contribute towards the cost of running, maintaining and upgrading the major water and sewerage infrastructure network for the local government area.

All properties with access to these services may receive a benefit either directly or indirectly. For example, a property’s market value may increase with the provision of these services. The infrastructure is available when you are ready to build.

The only time disconnection can occur is when demolition of any existing building on a property occurs (with a demolition granted order). The water and sewerage access charges would continue to apply to the property as the service remains available.

Liquid trade waste is defined in the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 as ‘all liquid waste other than sewerage of a domestic nature’.

Trade waste charges apply to dischargers of liquid trade waste and are already applied consistently across the local government area and are not impacted by the water and sewerage harmonisation.