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General News

27 January, 2021

$84.2 million needed for MSC water upgrade

MAREEBA Shire Council (MSC) is set to increase water access charges as they prepare to replace and upgrade their current crumbling water infrastructure.

By Rhys Thomas

Mareeba Shire Council Mayor Angela Toppin at the Mareeba Water Treatment Plant that is set to get upgraded as a part of their upcoming water infrastructure repairs.
Mareeba Shire Council Mayor Angela Toppin at the Mareeba Water Treatment Plant that is set to get upgraded as a part of their upcoming water infrastructure repairs.

MAREEBA Shire Council (MSC) is set to increase water access charges as they prepare to replaceand upgrade their current crumbling water infrastructure. 

At last week’s ordinary January Council meeting, the decision waspassed unanimously to start replacing and upgrading the critical infrastructure in stages. 

The current underground water infrastructure used by MSC was put in place 60 years ago between the 1950’s and the 1970’s and is entering the end of its lifespan. 

Pipes, water reservoirs, pumps and treatment plant components are just some of the assets that havebeen identified as needing to be replaced and/or upgraded. 

To fund the 256km, $84.2 million infrastructure replacement anincrease of $250 to $450 will be added onto the water access charge to ratepayers who use the Council water infrastructure system. 

During the meeting MSC Deputy Mayor Kevin Davies said that the increase is something that Council needs to do. 

“People don’t see what’s under the ground, they just turn on their tap and water comes out and if it doesn’t come out they complain,” - MSC Deputy Mayor Kevin Davies 

“This is something that we’re looking into the future with, it’s not just the next year it’s the next five, 10 up to 20 years.

“This is something that we haveto do as it’s a critical piece of infrastructure.”

Council is seeking grants from both state and federal governmentsto help offset the costs of the upgrades and alleviate the cost onratepayers.

In the MSC agenda for the January 20 meeting, it states that thelower increase of $250 will coverthe expenses until mid 2030, excluding the Water Treatment Plant. The $450 increase however will fund the entire project over the next 14 years. 

Council will decide on the amount of the increase before the end of the financial year for it to take effect in the 2021 financial year.

After the meeting Mayor Angela Toppin said that Council will belooking at securing the funding for these upgrades as soon as possible to let works start. 

“For the next 10 years we willhave to address this critical infrastructure for our Shire and we haveto have the funds to do it,” - MSC Mayor Angela Toppin

“The moment you press the button and no water comes out there isa big alarm. 

“Over a $100M investment in water infrastructure is projectedover the next 10 to 15 years to ensure a safe and reliable water sup- ply over the long term.” 

The money gathered from the water access charge goes into the water reserve and it is then spent purely on water infrastructure works. 

Council will have a $7.4 million surplus in the water reserve bythe end of the next financial yearwith the increase to the water access charge. 

By 2026/27 if there is no increase Council would be in a deficit of $5.4 million and by 2034/35the deficit would grow to over $53 million. 

The new water infrastructure system has an estimated 80-year lifespan with work set to begin in stages in the 2021 financial year.

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