Blame-shifting water reform failures to Councils is like a thief complaining about the quality of stolen goods!
As we no longer control the assets, projects or prices, Council ownership is a fiction.
Water prices are now driven by the State Treasurer’s requirement for a 7% commercial return on asset value.
Clarence managed its water and sewer system for a 3.5% return so water charges will double!
Since you and I paid the rates and taxes that built these assets, profits should be either used to grow the business by investing in new infrastructure or returned to the owners through reduced charges.
The Treasurer seems to have forgotten the reason for seizing these assets was to get water and sewerage to townships like Cremorne and Dodges Ferry.
Without Council dividends the real revenue raising plan has failed.
