Lower prices to flow for Barwon Water customers

THERE’S good news for Barwon Water customers with the utility forecasting a price decrease for a majority of users over the next five years.

Volume, service and sewerage bills are all tipped to decrease with the average annual bill for homeowners to fall from $1,076 in 2022-23 to $1,0003 in 2027-28.

Barwon Water stated that the fee structures mean customers bills will continue to be one of the lowest in Victorian for similar size water corporations.

The measures are contained in the authority’s recent submission to the Essential Services Commission (ESC), that every five years reviews the costs that utility providers charge.
It contains an overview of Barwon Water’s projected capital expenditure over the 2023 to 2028 period, that includes a 29 per cent increase on the previous five years and equates to an annual spend of nearly $110 million, close to $550 million in total.

Renewing and replacing ageing infrastructure to improve customer reliability and increase resilience to climate change accounts for 45 per cent of that spend, another 33 per cent is earmarked to capital projects needed to service the region’s growing population.

Another $5 million has been allocated to customer support programs to help those experiencing financial stress.

Barwon Water is committed to several large infrastructure projects including $10.1 million to build a pipeline to connect Birregurra to the Colac system and a $22.4 million extension of the Melbourne to Geelong Pipeline, that the authorities Managing Director Tracey Slatter said will defer the need for a large-scale water supply upgrade to 2032.

“This action will support our growing region, and allow for water to be returned to the flow-stressed Moorabool River for cultural values, to improve waterway health and to protect the native wildlife depending on our rivers.”

Another $117 million in projects over the next five years are also proposed by Barwon Water, including the $38.5 million Regional Renewable Organics Network, $26.4 million Forrest Wastewater and $17.7 support for use of recycled water in the Surf Coast Hinterland, but these projects have been excluded from current customer pricing as some are yet to be finalised and others are expected to generate their own revenue.

If given the green light by the ESC the new fee structures will come into effect from July 2023.

To view a copy of Barwon Water’s 2030 Strategy and 2023-28 Price Submission visit www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/about-us/strategy-2030