Merriwa Supporting Water Petition

SPURRED on by the win against the rate rise the community response to a petition to demand the state government fund water infrastructure has been described as overwhelming by organiser Mary Jane Blake.

“Our voices are obviously being heard and we want to emphasise that by coming forward and signing the petition it can make a difference; just like all of the submissions from local people to IPART (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal) made a difference,” said Ms Blake.

Jenny Wade is organising the petition in the Merriwa area and said they already have 500 signatures.

“We got the 500 signatures quite quickly because people are absolutely outraged,” said Ms Wade.

“We are a struggling community not only the people on the land, but the people in town as well,” she said.

“The cost of water is becoming absolutely astronomical and the quality of the water we have on bore water is detrimental,” she said.

“We’ve changed the water system three times in six years, so on top of rates going up and up we’ve got those added costs as well and we just don’t feel we are getting value for money,”she said.

“We should be paying a decent rate for the water and we should have access to quality water, just the same as the other residents of the Upper Hunter,” Jenny Wade said.

Mary Jane Blake said all of the major towns were rallying behind the petition.

“We are all paying a high price for water infrastructure in our rates, which should be paid for by the state government and it is even more insulting for towns like Merriwa and Murrurundi who don’t have decent water quality to still be paying such a high price,” said Mr Blake.

“Just looking down the main street of Scone, there are 20 shops vacant and businesses and people are struggling and that is across the Shire,” she said.

‘We all just want good water at a reasonable price and the infrastructure should be paid for by the state, not put on top of our bills, we can’t afford it,” Mary Jane Blake said.

The organisers will continue to gather signatures until mid-July.

SIGN THE PETITION: The pdf form below can be downloaded, printed, completed (all information) and sent to: Attention: Mary Jane Blake c/- scone.com.au, PO Box 576, Scone. NSW. 2337. Alternatively you can visit one of the businesses below and sign the petition there.

Download the petition: 201803 – NSW LA Petition – Upper Hunter Shire Water Infrastructure

Local Businesses with the Petition include:

Aberdeen:

• Barton’s Newsagency
• Aberdeen Pharmacy
• Aberdeen Doctor’s Surgery
• Crofts bakery
• Pete’s Pizza

Merriwa:

• IGA
• Eat at 153 Bettington

Murrurundi:

• Newsagency
• Chemist
• Nelliebellies Cafe

Scone:

• Ray White (formerly Dawson and Dawson)
• Thoroughbred Hotel/Cafe/Bakery
• Newsagency
• Scone Spare Parts and Accessories
• Cellarbrations
• Scone Discount Pharmacy
• Scone Chemist
• Victoria’s Hair & Beauty
• Willow Tree Hotel
• Colonel Motor Lodge with Timmy Thai Restaurant.

Related stories:

• Signatures to Address Water Rates – March 27, 2018.
• Water Meeting Progress – March 13, 2018.
• Community to Meet Over Water Charges – March 12, 2018.
• Editorial: Water the Hell is Going On? – March 8, 2018.