WAS YOUR WATER BILL HIGHER THAN EXPECTED?
Over the past week many have received their water bill, with some being unexpectedly surprised and concerned over what seems to be a higher bill.
Central Tablelands Water (CTW) has confirmed why, “The most recent meter reading for CTW consumers was undertaken during April and included the consumption period from mid January to late April.
In order to manage the operations of CTW of providing a quality water supply to approximately 14,000 consumers, CTW schedule meter readings to occur every three months (90 days on average).
As CTW is currently progressing with its important major capital works program of replacing existing ageing infrastructure, me- ter reading for the previous quarter had to be undertaken earlier than normal, resulting in a slightly shorter billing period. Thus there has been an increase in the total num- ber of days in the most recent billing cycle. However, the average daily consumption rate (kilolitres per day) for most accounts was comparable with previous corresponding peak summer consumption periods.”
INQUIRY INTO RURAL WATER SUPPLIES
A standing committee of the NSW Upper House is conducting an inquiry into the augmentation of water supplies in rural and re- gional NSW. The committee had a public hearing in Orange on 17th May.
During the morning the Committee, accompanied by Cr Somervaille and Cr West, visited Joe Curran’s property on Fish Fossil Drive to see first-hand the consequences of last winter’s flooding.
David Somervaille, as Centroc water portfolio chair, stressed to the Committee the importance to local communities of the proposed new storage at Cranky Rock.
“The extra water security high in the catchment would address both the town water issues and the irrigation water issues, which are our two primary concerns,” Councillor Somervaille said in his evidence to the Inquiry.
Harry Burkitt, Secretary of the Save Cliefden Caves Association said, “The local geology means the dam would not only inundate the precious Cliefden Caves, but also be at risk of leaking and causing earth- quakes. The NSW government is spending 6 million dollars on a project that just doesn’t add up. It will cause a huge amount of destruction, for very doubtful returns”.