No bill increases for our customers: Riverina Water

Amid rising interest rates and costs of living comes some good news from Riverina Water.

Riverina Water will continue to have some of the lowest water costs in the state over the coming financial year – a typical residential bill will increase by just $8 a year on average in 2022/23.

Recent surveys reported that just over half of all Australians will struggle to pay an essential bill over the next few months, so the organisation expects this will be welcome news to residents of Wagga and surrounding areas.

“Our mission is to continue to provide our community with safe, reliable water at the lowest sustainable cost,” Riverina Water chairperson Cr Tim Koschel said.

He explained that last year, a typical residential bill for Riverina Water customers was almost $50 cheaper than the state median and more than $140 cheaper than the national median.

Councillor Koschel said that the consistent rates mean “customers can have even greater control over their water bill and budget through managing their water usage.”

He also noted that often customers didn’t cotton on to how much cheaper water bills could be in the Riverina until they moved to or away from the region.

Riverina Water’s availability charges for residential properties will remain the same for the fourth year in a row – $160 per annum.

Its general water tariff will hop 2 cents higher from $1.49 to $1.51, and usage charges will increase by just 1.5 per cent.

“These rates mean Riverina Water customers will continue to have some of the most affordable water in NSW,” Cr Koschel said.

The organisation services 76,000 people across 15,000 sqkm encompassing Wagga and Lockhart Shire Councils and parts of Federation and Greater Hume Shire Councils.

It’s an exciting announcement for the water provider, which also snapped up the state’s top water supply award for its 30-year drinking water management plan in February this year.

Riverina Water representatives accepted the Sam Samra Award at the Local Government NSW Water Management Conference, which recognised the state’s most improved local government water or sewerage provider.

Also included in their Delivery Program and Operational Plan was an investment of more than $79 million into capital works in their service region over the next four years.

During the rest of this year and into 2023, there will be $5.67 million spent on mains, services and meters, $4.83 million on treatment plant costs and $875,000 on reservoirs.

The 25-year-old organisation also aims to become carbon neutral by 2030 and is developing a two-hectare solar farm and battery project worth more than $20 million.

It’s thirsty work, but Riverina Water seems to be going from strength to strength.

“It’s down to really good management at headquarters,” Cr Koschel explained.

“We have a great board and executive staff who have made some excellent investments in infrastructure over the past few years.

“That’s how we can provide a good quality essential service at an exceptional price.”