Regulator Endorses Central Highlands Water’s Five Year Plan - Friday, 20 June, 2008

The Essential Services Commission (ESC), the water industry’s independent economic regulator, today approved a water plan that will set Central Highlands Water’s (CHW) pricing and investment program in the region for the next five years.

The plan features a record investment of $400 million in programs in 2008 – 2013 to continue to secure the region’s water and waste water services. Of this amount, $170 million will be spent on new water and waste water projects.

CHW Chairman, John Barnes said. “Central Highlands Water is pleased that the ESC has ‘signed off’ on the plan after an extensive period of public consultation that began in 2007 with the release of the draft water plan.”

“The water plan will enable CHW to deliver significant water and waste water projects in the region that will greatly assist in improving water quality and environmental benefits in the many systems and towns across the region,” Mr Barnes said.

Key projects in the plan include:

• Four town sewerage schemes in Waubra, Gordon, Smythesdale and Blackwood

• Completion of the Goldfields super pipe project including a mini hydro electricity generation plant

• Water quality improvements in Avoca and Landsborough

• Sewer and water mains renewals program across the region

• Upgrade of the Beaufort Sewerage Treatment plant

• Sewer flow containment projects in Ballarat and Daylesford

Today the ESC has supported the proposed water rates and the level of investment to deliver CHW’s key projects and maintain and improve services.

Following the release of the draft plan in 2007, Central Highlands Water wrote to all of its customers seeking input on the plan. The majority of customers stated a preference for larger price increases in the first year followed by smaller increases in the next four years (i.e. 25% average increase in year one, a 5.1% average increase in year two and 3.1% over the years three - five).

“The community has requested a number of improvements in water and waste water infrastructure across the region and this water plan sets a clear direction for delivery of over $170 million of capital projects and improved service for our customers”, John Barnes said. “Such a high level of investment will have a pricing impact for all customers, but the pricing model chosen limits the impact over five years,” he said.
“The community can be confident that we have a plan to secure water supplies and improve public health and environmental issues across the region”.

Central Highlands Water 2008 – 2013 Water Plan is available on our website at www.chw.net.au or by calling CHW on 5320 3111.

Further information about the ESC determination can be sourced from the ESC website at www.esc.vic.gov.au

CHW New Water Prices