Council Asks: Should We Reduce Water Rates for Racing?

LAST night the Council moved a motion for water rates for the Scone Race Club to be reduced, however there is a period of public consultation for their amendment to the Council’s revenue policy before the matter is finalised by Council and Council issued a media release this afternoon asking for community feedback. Read: Council Reduce Race Club Water Rates.

Residents can make a submission before December 24 by:

• emailing: council@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au;
• post: PO Box 208, Scone. NSW. 2337, or
• in person at a Council office.

Council confirmed Scone Race Club had written to request a temporary drop in water charges for track and ground irrigation from the commercial rate of $2.35 per kilolitre to the rate used on Council parks, gardens, cemeteries and pools of 0.96 cents per kL, until June 2020.

In Council’s media release, Heath Courtney, CEO of Scone Race Club is quoted as saying, “without a viable water source, it is very likely racing and a majority of the training out of the Scone Race Club will cease indefinitely and also place at risk the 2020 Scone Cup Carnival event.”

The Council release stated the SRC and Racing New South Wales were investigating funds to increase their water efficiency and identify alternate water supplies and required assistance in the short term, during summer, as the Club will likely fall short of the water required to avoid impact on their operations.

Council said water sources normally drawn upon for irrigation at the Scone Race Club were dwindling and allowing the Club to use town water from Glenbawn Dam would not decrease water availability for the 2019/20 year, “as annual allocations from Glenbawn Dam have already been set and are sufficient for town water supply needs – including supply to Murrurundi.”

Council highlighted their strong support of equine activities including, “the Hunter Valley Equine Research Centre (HVERC) and the Scone Race Club (SRC) over many years, with regular supply of recycled water from the Scone sewage treatment plant (STP) for more than a decade.”

Related stories:

• Letter: Hide of Scone Race Club – May 30, 2019.
• Race Club Justifies No Picnics – May 9, 2019.
• This Cup No Picnic – May 7, 2019.