On the 18th July the Moreton Bay Ratepayers Action Group Inc – Pine Rivers South Branch held a public meeting at the Hills District Community Centre in Dawson Pde. It was attended by about 250 people. It had been announced with letterbox drops and signs around the district.

A panel of 8 began by each giving a 3 minute presentation on their aspect of the water rates rises issue.

Dennis Austin – President Moreton Bay Ratepayers Action Group Inc.

Bob Miller – Moreton Bay Regional Council Division 11 – Chair Finance Committee

Ron Crump – local resident ex Arana Leagues Club Director/ General Manager

Cr Brian Battersby – Moreton Bay Regional Council Division 10

John Black – CEO Unitywater

Murray Watt MP – State Member for Everton

Peter George – Secretary Moreton Bay Ratepayers Action Group Inc

(Apol from Geoff Wilson MP)

Rate parity achieved 1 July 2010

$25m operational savings = $189 average that rates didn’t increase by

New valuations 30 June resulted in valuation changes ranging from -20% to +112%

State spent $9billion on water management in SE QLD

Council will subsidize water transition to Unitywater 50% this year and 25% next financial year.

Wasn’t Council’s decision to have water and sewerage separated from Council. A sad day to see it move to a new organisation.

Cr Bob Miller: Water is a finite resource and will probably get a lot more expensive.

Murray Watt MP: Both State Government and Council is involved in supply of water to people.

State supplied ‘bulk water’ to Councils treats water holds it in dams builds and operates desalination plants and the water grid invests in water infrastructure.

Council then supplies it to us.

Q. Why have our water costs gone up?

A. The cost of bulk water has gone up because:

* We had the worst drought in decades

* Wivenhoe Dam dropped right down

* Panic at risk of running out of water

* State Government decided to buy big water catchments

* The way we are growing across the region

* Important to manage water on a regional basis

* $2 billion paid to Councils to buy the bulk water resources

* $7 billion spent on desalination plant and water grid

* Ways to pay for expenditure:

o Govt to pay the lot

o Users to pay the lot

o Share the costs (chosen option. The Govt will wear a $400million loss this year on supplying water to Councils).

John Black CEO Unitywater: Water Commission set up to ensure security of supply and to act as umpire for distribution.

All water in the wholesale pool is the same price (desal dams…)

From 1 July 2010 collecting the Councils’ 3 water businesses and putting them in a new entity totally separate from Councils with an independent board.

Unitywater $40billion asset base 900 staff. $650million forward capital projects over next 4 years.

Also responsible for collecting transporting and treating sewerage.

Unitywater can recoup a fair return on assets staff costs and to contribute to new assets going forward. Price of water to consumer is based on the value of the assets.

QLD Competition Authority scrutinizes to check all pricing is efficient and fair.

There is an intent to appoint a water ombudsmand and an electricity ombudsman.

Dennis Austin: There are 8 years of more increases in price to come.

We want to be a watchdog where it costs us money. We want your support to attend our protests to join if you like to email us. www.theratepayer.com