scone.com.auWater Meeting Progress
THIS morning more than 40 concerned residents met at the Thoroughbred Hotel to discuss the latest water rates from the Upper Hunter Shire Council.
Residents raised concerns about the accuracy of the water meters, the rate water is charged at, the disparity between winter and summer rates and estimated readings compared to actual usage.
Mary Jane Blake, who organised the meeting said the bottom line seems to be cost shifting for water infrastructure being placed onto local residents who simply can’t afford it.
“Our Councillors, who we elected, need to go to the state government to fund water infrastructure instead of passing it on to ratepayers,” said Ms Blake.
“I contacted John Preston (Upper Hunter candidate for Shooters, Fishers and Farmers) to talk about my water bill, it started as me meeting with him, but then I thought I’d open it to other members of the community who also wanted answers,” she said.
“I was really surprised how many people turned up on a Tuesday morning, but it just shows how people have had enough,” she said.
“From this we will be developing a petition to have tabled in state parliament and we will need 500 residents to sign it and demand the state government start paying for water infrastructure not local rate payers,” she said.
“I aim to have the petition ready for people to sign in the next couple of days,” Mary Jane Blake said.
John Preston, speaking with concerned residents about water rates.
John Preston, addressed the meeting and said he would be meeting with the Mayor and new general manager to discuss rate payers concerns.
“Essentially what we are seeing is a Council who can’t provide an essential service like water at a reasonable rate and when it is more than people can afford then you have to go back to state government,” said Mr Preston.
“There is a massive capital cost over a small population and it is not fair to pass all of that cost onto local ratepayers,” he said.
“Residents in Sydney complained about the tolls on the western freeway and the government now pays for that and I think an essential service such as water should be paid for by the state government,” he said.
Mac Dawson, local resident and real estate agent, questioned if actual readings on bills were in fact ‘estimated’ usage.
“I’ve seen a bill for a tenant which has been exactly the same to the cent for three quarters and I can’t see how that could be the case no matter how OCD people might be I can’t see how it would be to the cent and the plumbing crew said they were doing estimates, but the Council say they don’t,” said Mr Dawson.
“Scone is becoming not viable to invest in because of the rates and the water rates compared to Sydney and other places,” he said.
Josh and Heidi Rumsby, who have just built a new home on Cunningham Drive said they saw Scone as becoming too expensive to live.
“The last few bills have been about $400 but our last bill was $2,000,” said Josh Rumsby.
“And that include us being away over Christmas for four weeks, plus another two weeks with the kids, so I just don’t see how it could get that high,” said Josh.
“How can single pensioners living on their own pay $700?” questioned Heidi Rumsby.
“They are going to send everyone broke and we’ve thought about moving away because of the expense of living here and no real facilities we go to Tamworth all the time with the kids to play soccer,” she said.
Some of the angry residents who met at the Thoroughbred to discuss water rates at the Thoroughbred today.
Other residents complained of the $171 fee for Council to check water meters.
Two Council staff members attended the meeting, but did not address the meeting.
John Preston said it would be in Council’s best interest to instill trust in the water meters and conduct the testing for residents who wanted it for free.
The Council staff members said they would take the proposal back to Council and Mr Preston said he would raise it with the Mayor personally.
Other residents criticised Council for not being more proactive in addressing residents concerns, including no Councillors attending the community meeting.
“It is like they don’t want to even acknowledge there is a problem,” said a resident.
Another resident questioned how Scone’s rates could be 50 percent higher than surrounding Shires, “and if they say it costs an extra 50 percent compared to neighbouring Shires, then they are doing something wrong.”
Mary Jane Blake said it was clear at the meeting that residents were not prepared to shoulder such high costs.
“They are sick of Council pushing us to one side and we will be taking this further,” Ms Blake said.
When the petition is drafted scone.com.au will publish information on where residents can sign the petition to be taken to state parliament.
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