Unitywater have released their new pricing for commercial premises.

Whilest it too early to analyse the figures fully, there are two notable points .. the Sunshine Coast Region has closed the gap with Moreton by approx. $ 100 per year. The other point is it is cheaper to use water from a residential tap then a commercial tap.

Maybe the the commercial users are getting a higher grade of water.

If commercial premises are charged more ,the owners will pass it onto the shop tenants, who will then pass it onto the customer or go broke.

SAY NO TO INDIRECT TAXING. 

Unitywater are claiming that they will lose approx. $ 1.25 million per year.....The tooth fairy has arrived! 

Tell your councillors enough is enough! And they will be looking for a new job in March,2016

A CAIRNS RATEPAYER RECENTLY RECEIVED THEIR WATER BILL WHICH IS ISSUED 3 TIMES PER YEAR. THEIR TOTAL WATER USAGE BY THEIR TENANT WAS 46 KILOLITRES... TOTAL BILL $51.06 FOR 4 MONTHS. YEARLY TOTAL IS APPROX.$ 153.18 PER YEAR.

NO WATER & SEWERAGE ACCESS CHARGES.THE WATER & SEWERAGE IS CONTROLLED BY CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL.

POOR BASTARDS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE MISSING BY NOT HAVING UNITYWATER AS THEIR RETAILER.  

COPIES OF THE THE BILL WILL BE POSTED ON THIS SITE SHORTLY. 

Minister says desalination plant a $15m per year insurance policy against drought

Aerial photo of the desalination plant. Source: News Limited

THE city’s mothballed $1.2 billion desalination plant could be turned on within four years sparking fears Gold Coasters will be hit with big water bills.

Water Supply Minister Mark Bailey exclusively told the Bulletin the defunct plant would not be decommissioned despite costing taxpayers $15 million a year to sit idle.

A Seqwater spokesman said the plant would be needed to deal with Queensland’s booming population but denied ratepayers would be slugged with increased water bills.

However, Gold Coast water boss Paul Taylor said the flawed project would inevitably put pressure on bills.

“The desalination plant is sitting there doing nothing at a massive cost to taxpayers,” he said.

“The state owns the water and sells it back to us so massive costs will indirectly increase the cost of water on the Gold Coast.

“Last year there was a 13 per cent increase in the cost of water. It is no wonder the price goes up when the State Government spends $15 million a year maintaining an asset that does nothing.”

Photo of the desalination plant at Tugun. Source: News Limited 

Mr Bailey hailed the Gold Coast desalination plant as “$15 million insurance policy” to protect Queenslanders from tough times.

“Water is a critical part of our daily lives and this desalination plant is the South East’s $15 million insurance policy when times get tough in the drought or in natural disasters,” Mr Bailey said.

“As such, there are no plans to decommission the Gold Coast desalination plant.”

The plant has been used sporadically since becoming operational in 2010, but Mr Bailey said it would be a “saviour” in times of drought.

Settling ponds at the Tugun desal plant. Source: News Limited 

“Many people will remember when this desal plant was the saviour of southeast Queensland’s water supply during the devastating 2011 floods and more recently in 2013,” he said.

“At that time, it supplemented the South East’s water supplies when Brisbane’s largest water treatment plant at Mt Crosby was shut down.

“Good governments, responsible governments, plan for the future.

“Seqwater advises that in four years’ time, we may well need to use the desalination plant to ensure water supplies during peak demand periods over the summer.”

Former Water Minister Mark McArdle says Moreton Bay Regional Council should do more for battlers and pensioners

 

Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) has hit back at State Government claims it is not doing enough to help struggling families and pensioners with their water bills.

Water Supply Minister Mark McArdle this week told MBRC it should match the State’s SEQ pensioner water subsidy of $120 a year.

Mr McArdle said MBRC should use some of the profits from the council-owned water business, Unitywater, to “insulate” pensioners against price increases this year.

But MBRC Corporate Services spokesman Cr Bob Millar said the minister’s comments were “regrettable and “unhelpful”.

“Moreton Bay Region is one of the council areas that has already done a disproportionate amount of the heavy lifting on water prices and experienced significant price increases for bulk water to pay off the state’s debt,” Cr Millar said.

“All we’re asking is a fair go, and for higher bulk water increases to be applied to other council areas in the south east that have to date paid much less.”

Mr McArdle also called on MBRC to “follow the example of Brisbane City Council, which earns a proportionally lower rate of return from its water company, Queensland Urban Utilities, but uses the council-owned company’s profit to pay for a very generous water rebate for pensioners”.

“While Seqwater loses money, Moreton Bay Regional Council receives a dividend from water and sewerage charges,” he said.

“Council should explain what it does with the dividends it receives from residents’ water bills.”

But Cr Millar responded by calling on the minister to “explain to Moreton Bay Region residents why they continue to pay significantly more than their neighbours for the same bulk water the state supplies to Unitywater”.

“It is also unreasonable to compare the higher population densities of the Brisbane City Council area with that of the Moreton Bay Region for the delivery of water and sewage services,” Cr Millar said.

“The participation return paid to council by Unitywater is determined by the State government’s own water legislation and is reinvested by council in community infrastructure and delivering the lowest possible rates for ratepayers.”

Council recently submitted to the Queensland Competition Authority that the price path for State controlled bulk water charges be applied equitably across local government areas with those councils who have so far been paying less to pay more into the future.

All SEQ council’s will be paying the same amount for bulk water by the 2017/18 financial year if no changes are made to the current price bath for bulk water charges.

Mr McArdle said the State had worked to decrease bulk water price increases mapped out by the previous State government.

The State bulk water charge makes up 29 per cent of an average Unitywater bill.

Source: Quest News

Moreton Bay Region water users pay more than Sunshine Coast via Unitywater

 

UnityWater is charging residents of Moreton Bay more than the Sunshine Coast for the same service.

It is another blow for local residents who are struggling to find a solution for increasing water bills as Unitywater, Moreton Bay Regional Council and the State Government all try to defect the blame to each other.

Pensioner Norm Chitts owns a house at Woody Point and an investment property in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. He said he wanted the rest of the Peninsula to know about the huge price difference he notices in his two bills.

“I’m not crying poor, but I do feel it is unfair between the two areas and our residents are being charged so much more,” Mr Chitts said.

A spokeswoman said there were a number of reasons for the price difference, including the greater value of assets in Moreton Bay and that “Moreton Bay has only 47 properties per kilometre of water pipeline, while the Sunshine Coast has 54”.

“The value of assets per customer and the investment needed to upgrade and maintain those assets is a major contributor to pricing in each area,” the spokeswoman said.

“The more the infrastructure is worth, the more it costs to upgrade and maintain it.

“The more customers connected to existing assets, the less it costs to provide the service for each customer and the cheaper the bill becomes.”

Unitywater also pointed out that a house and unit are subject to different pricing structures.

Mr Chitts is charged $2.437/kl for the State bulk water price in his Woody Point home but only $1.588/kl on the Sunshine Coast. This price is determined by the State Government and is different in each council area.

All of the prices determined by Unitywater — water usage, sewerage treatment, water access and sewerage access — are greater in Moreton Bay compared to the Sunshine Coast.

This comes after a water forum was held at Bribie Island last week, where about 500 people attended to no avail.

Clive Selwood from Kippa-Ring said he left the meeting with little hope, despite a “working group” being formed.

“I don’t know if anything will come out of it, the Minister said nothing’s going to change,” he said.

The Unitywater spokeswoman said the new pricing structure gave more customers control over their bills and suggested water-saving measures as a way to “help reduce bills”.

A statement from MBRC on behalf of Mayor Allan Sutherland deflected questions on pricing to Unitywater and noted Unitywater and the State Government were responsible for water pricing.

“The biggest strength of Unitywater is its economies of scale which provides opportunities for further efficiencies,” Cr Sutherland said.

Source: Quest News

Who owns Unitywater? “Not I” says Moreton Bay Regional Council and State Government - but local expert may have the answer

 

THE mystery of who actually owns Unitywater is now a little closer to being solved.

It is a question which has dogged ratepayers for years and almost become a modern-day revision of the nursery rhyme Who Killed Cock Robin?

So who owns this statutory authority that provides water and sewerage to residents of Moreton Bay Regional Council?

We put question to the ­relevant parties. “Not I,” said the State Government. “I own Seqwater.”

State Member for Pine Rivers Seath Holswich said: “Seqwater sold bulk water at a loss (last year) to council-owned water companies like Unity­water.’’

Moreton Bay Regional Council was keen to distance itself from ownership of Unitywater.

At the top of his divisional newsletter for July-August, planning spokesman Councillor Mick Gillam wrote: “It (Unitywater) is run by an independent board (and) the board by law must be there for the benefit of the company not an external party.”

We asked Unity­water who owned it. A spokesman said: “(Unitywater) is a statutory authority with three shareholders – the Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa Councils – and is governed by an independent board.’’

Dayboro solicitor Robert Garvey said Unitywater was best understood by the legislation which established it.

“I agree Unitywater is not owned by the councils. It is designed to be ‘independent’,” Mr Garvey said. “Councillors can appoint themselves to the board.’’

However, the solicitor had a cynical view of how the “unowned” Unitywater came into being.

“It is a useful device for government/politicians who can distance themselves from unpopular decisions such as water charges and investment decisions,’’ he said.

Source: Courier-Mail

Unitywater bosses in cash splash

 

Six Unitywater bosses were awarded $280,000 in performance bonuses, while ratepayers were slugged with skyrocketing water bills.

The water retailer’s CEO George Theo, whose salary now tops $368,000, was one of the bureaucrats who cashed in on the bonuses revealed in Unitywater’s annual report, which was tabled in Parliament last night.

Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland said the high bonuses were “extremely disappointing”, but Unitywater chair Jim Soorley said they were justified and rejected any comparison of bonuses to water prices.

Mr Theo, as well as five other top executives, took home a combined $280,581 in extra cash on top of their salary – which averages out at more than $46,600 each.

It was up $60,000 on the total bonuses paid out last year, which is an almost 30 per cent increase.

Little explanation is given for the basis of the cash splash, other than “achievements of corporate, divisional and individual targets”.

It comes in the same year that Unitywater customers, residents of Moreton Bay, Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, were slugged with 5 per cent water price increases, well in excess of CPI.

Based on an average home using 166 kilolitres of water a year, Sunshine Coast residents were hit with a $69 hike, which brought their bill up to $1337, while Moreton Bay residents were slugged $1689, which is up $83.

Unitywater put its consumption charge and fixed charges up 3.5 per cent, while the State Government’s bulk water charges increased up to 13 per cent. Cr Sutherland said the bonus payouts sent the wrong signal.

“I’m extremely disappointed that when we’re trying to keep prices low, highly paid executives are getting so-called bonuses,” he said.

Mr Soorley said executives worked hard to keep costs and prices down. “The Unitywater team has done an extremely good job,” he said.

Source: Quest News

Stress on families as water price more than doubles

 

WATER prices in the seaside community of Redcliffe have more than doubled in the past five years.

That’s one of the biggest price increases in southeast Queensland.

Before Unitywater took control of water supplies to Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast councils in July 2010, Redcliffe residents paid an average yearly bill of $832.

The average annual bill is now more than $1680, based on a home using 166 kilolitres of water per year.

Unitywater announced price increases yesterday, which means Sunshine Coast residents will pay $1337, up $69 on last year, while Moreton Bay residents will pay $1689, up $83 on last year.

The difference in bills between the two regions under Unitywater has been blamed on high growth in Moreton Bay, which includes Redcliffe, Caboolture and Pine Rivers, necessitating construction of water and sewerage infrastructure.

What your water will cost you now

Scare as lead found in North-East Tasmania water source

Redcliffe nurse and mother of two Claire Elfverson said the cost of water had rocketed and her family had to keep making cuts to keep bills under control.

“We even ripped up the vege garden because we knew we wouldn’t be able to afford to keep watering it,” she said. “By the time you pay the rates, water and electricity, it takes a big chunk out of your budget.”

Unitywater put its consumption charge and fixed charges up 3.5 per cent, while the State Government’s bulk water charges increased up to 13 per cent.

In the past five years, the annual water bill for Pine Rivers residents rose from $1087 to $1689, or 55 per cent; Caboolture residents rose from $1032 to $1689, or 63 per cent, while water costs for Sunshine Coast residents went up from $1044 to $1337, or 28 per cent.

Unitywater did not respond to questions about Redcliffe prices, but in a statement CEO George Theo said it was making savings to keep prices down, but admitted more could be done.

Before Unitywater took over, Redcliffe paid less for water than any other Moreton Bay council region but was brought up to parity with Pine Rivers and Caboolture in 2010 – a 66 per cent increase.

Unitywater has also previously said Moreton Bay residents must pay more because upgrades were needed to keep pace with growth.

Source: News dot com dot au

Dear Mr Hansen

UNITYWATER

Thank you for your email dated 16 December 2014 regarding the legal status of

Unitywater. I refer to my previous letters to you in relation to this matter and the entity's relationship with its participating local governments.

I am advised that participating local governments are not Unitywater's "price regulator" and Unitywater is not a "commercial business subsidiary" of the participating local governments. Further, your comments regarding council's

statutory role under the Local Government Act 2009 and your reference to "COAG local government reform agreements" are incorrect.

As previously indicated in my correspondence to you, water pricing is ultimately a matter for the State Government and Unitywater.

I trust the above information clarifies Council's position.

Yours sincerely

ALLAN SUTHERLAND Mayor

Our ref: A10302377; A10284641

Unitywater gives their workers a mileage allowance when supplying them Unitywater trucks. In some cases the worker with the the truck has to pick up other members of his team sometimes up to 20 kms from his place of residence & drop them home. Plus getting paid whilest he is picking up his team. Who said Unitywater does not care about their workers? 

Unitywater CIO joins NSW Government

Stop misleading your ratepayers: McArdle to Councillor Jorge Branco | 16th Jul 2014 6:00 AM Updated: 2:48 PM  

DETERMINED: Protesters gather at Unitywater's Caboolture office. Jorge Branco

STATE Water Minister Mark McArdle's office has accused a Moreton Bay regional councillor of deliberately misleading ratepayers about the ownership of Unitywater but the council is standing firm.

In his June-July newsletter Division 5 councillor James Houghton told readers the council did not own Unitywater.

"Problems with Unitywater? Don't call council!" he wrote.

"Does council own Unitywater? Answer: No!"

The Unitywater website states "Unitywater is a statutory authority, jointly and wholly-owned by the Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast Regional and Noosa Shire Councils" but Cr Houghton and a Moreton Bay Regional Council spokesman both stood by the claims.

"If it was owned by us, we'd b! e telling them what to do," Cr Houghton said.

"We've got no say whatsoever in it."

The council spokesman said: "as required by state legislation, Moreton Bay Regional Council is a participant in Unitywater, not an owner."

A spokesman for Mr McArdle insisted MBRC, along with the Sunshine Coast Council and Noosa Shire Council, jointly owned Unitywater.

"Cr Houghton is deliberately misleading ratepayers," he said.

"Moreton Bay Regional Council along with the other council owners appoint the board that runs Unitywater on its behalf.

"Unitywater has a participation agreement with its owner councils. It sets out governance and reporting arrangements and how profits are distributed.

"Of the total issued participation rights for Unitywater, Moreton Bay Regional Council has 58.24%, Sunshine Coa! st has 37.51% and Noosa has 4.25%." 

Ratepayers Action Group spokesman Dennis Austen. Photo Jorge Branco / Caboolture News Jorge Branco

A RATEPAYER advocate says the whole issue boils down to money.

At a protest earlier this month, Ratepayers Action Group's Dennis Austen said at the end of the day, the only thing people really cared about was cost.

"All we want is the prices down," he said.

"Do people really care about de-amalgamation? Do they really ca! re about Unitywater? I don't think so.

"I think all they want to do is see the b******* prices down."

Mr Austen made the comments at a protest against the water retailer in Caboolture on July 4.

He and 25 other protesters gathered with Unite Against Unity placards and a megaphone to discuss water pricing.

"The main thing we're here for today is to just make our presence known," Mr Austen told the gathering.

"While we're not great in number, we're just continuing to chip away at the edges.

"This is an election year - eight months away now from an election. It's going to be interesting to see if Labor or Liberal promise to do anything about the situation."

A Unitywater spokeswoman said the company would try to increase efficiency to keep costs and prices down.

&qu! ot;Unitywater announced a 3.5% increase as of 1 July 2014. This is one of the smallest increases across water and sewerage service providers in SEQ," she said.

The State Government increased bulk water prices (shown as a separate component on your bill) by 10.1% on July 1, adding further pressure to water bills.

The increase was part of the bulk water "price path" that will see all south-east Queensland council regions paying $3217/ML for bulk water by 2017-18 - an almost 20% increase from this financial year.

Speaking after the protest, Mr Austen said the group's aim was to keep water prices down. He said disbanding Unitywater was the best way to do so, but failing that he wanted to see a representative of the public on the Unitywater board.

A spokesman for Moreton Bay Regional Council said the three participating councils, including Noosa,! Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay, were jointly responsible for appointing board members.

"There are currently no local government representatives on the board of Unitywater," he said.

The spokesman said there were no available positions on the Unitywater board. Each Council has the right to elect a councillor to the board of Unitywater. Also, the Council can direct Unitywater in writing on any matter.

You can find out more about the Unite Against Unity campaign at //www.uniteagainstunity.info/.

Unitywater staff reject 2.2 per cent pay rise offer after board’s 5 per cent pay increase revealed

Unitywater chairman Jim Soorley was paid $105,000 in 2013-14. Source: News Limited

UNITYWATER staff have snubbed a 2.2 per cent pay offer following revelations board members received more than double that.

Strike action is on the cards at the water retailer unless the parties get back to the negotiating table following results of the staff ballot on the pay deal being revealed yesterday.

The Services Union said reports the water retailer’s board members enjoyed a 5 per cent increase this year fuelled anger in the staff, resulting in a large voter response as more than 80 per cent of workers rejected the offer.

But the water retailer’s CEO George Theo said it was “nonsensical” to compare the board’s pay to staff, as this was the board’s first pay increase in four years while workers received successive increases totalling 11.4 per cent – or 2.85 per cent a year – in that time.

BONUSES: Unitywater bosses in cash splash

LEAK: Unitywater grants board members 5 per cent pay increase

The board’s chairman Jim Soorley was paid $105,000 in 2013-14, while the other members Barry Casson, Sharon Doyle, Megan Houghton and Mike Williamson earn $56,000 to $61,000.

Staff were offered a 2.2 per cent rise, but would lose one rostered day off per month.

The Services Union acting secretary Jennifer Thomas said more than 488 of the 600 staff returned their votes, with 81 per cent of those rejecting the deal.

“It was very clearly in response to what the board members are getting paid,” Ms Thomas said.

“Staff have seen nothing from management or the board in terms of what they have had to give up (to keep prices down).”

She said industrial action could follow if Unitywater failed to return to the negotiating table, but that would only affect internal processes, not the customers.

But Mr Theo said Unitywater was working with a wage policy advised by the Public Service Commission, offering the 2.2 per cent rise in return for improved productivity by changing the number of days worked.

“There is no connection between this and the board increase and comparisons between the two are nonsensical,” he said.

“Our aim was to improve productivity and reduce costs to help ensure that our services remain affordable.”

by: Matthew Killoran

Claire Elfverson of Redcliffe and her son James use the hose for a rare garden watering. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: News Limited

WATER prices in the seaside community of Redcliffe have more than doubled in the past five years.

That’s one of the biggest price increases in southeast Queensland.

Before Unitywater took control of water supplies to Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast councils in July 2010, Redcliffe residents paid an average yearly bill of $832.

The average annual bill is now more than $1680, based on a home using 166 kilolitres of water per year.

Unitywater announced price increases yesterday, which means Sunshine Coast residents will pay $1337, up $69 on last year, while Moreton Bay residents will pay $1689, up $83 on last year.

The difference in bills between the two regions under Unitywater has been blamed on high growth in Moreton Bay, which includes Redcliffe, Caboolture and Pine Rivers, necessitating construction of water and sewerage infrastructure.

 

What your water will cost you now

Scare as lead found in North-East Tasmania water source

 

Redcliffe nurse and mother of two Claire Elfverson said the cost of water had rocketed and her family had to keep making cuts to keep bills under control.

“We even ripped up the vege garden because we knew we wouldn’t be able to afford to keep watering it,” she said. “By the time you pay the rates, water and electricity, it takes a big chunk out of your budget.”

Unitywater put its consumption charge and fixed charges up 3.5 per cent, while the State Government’s bulk water charges increased up to 13 per cent.

In the past five years, the annual water bill for Pine Rivers residents rose from $1087 to $1689, or 55 per cent; Caboolture residents rose from $1032 to $1689, or 63 per cent, while water costs for Sunshine Coast residents went up from $1044 to $1337, or 28 per cent.

Unitywater did not respond to questions about Redcliffe prices, but in a statement CEO George Theo said it was making savings to keep prices down, but admitted more could be done.

Before Unitywater took over, Redcliffe paid less for water than any other Moreton Bay council region but was brought up to parity with Pine Rivers and Caboolture in 2010 – a 66 per cent increase.

Unitywater has also previously said Moreton Bay residents must pay more because upgrades were needed to keep pace with growth.

Unitywater grants board members 5 per cent pay increase while offering staff 2.2 per cent

Chairman Jim Soorley has defended a pay rise for Unitywater board members. Source: News Limited

UNITYWATER board members have been given double the pay rise being offered to its staff – and it matches the increase in the average water bill.

A confidential memo reveals a 5 per cent increase in the board members’ fees was approved in May to take effect from July 1, while for following years it will increase with CPI.

Meanwhile, the workers on the ground will soon vote on an offer of 2.2 per cent increase as part of their EBA negotiations, which will also take away one rostered day off per month.

Unitywater board chairman Jim Soorley defended the pay rise, saying it was their first increase in four years.

The water retailers’ annual report revealed the top six executives were given a combined $280,000 in bonuses.

Mr Soorley’s pay is set to rise to $105,000 a year.

BONUSES: Unitywater bosses in cash splash

SOUTHEAST: Councils plead for dropping of bulk water charges

The pay of fellow board members Barry Casson, Sharon Doyle, Megan Houghton and Mike Williamson will increase by about $3000 each.

The Services Union acting secretary Jennifer Thomas said staff had been told their pay had to be kept to a minimum so water prices could stay low for customers.

“The same rules clearly don’t apply to management,” she said. It’s a slap in the face. I don’t know anyone getting a 5 per cent increase at the moment.”

Mr Soorley, a former Brisbane lord mayor, said the fee was the equivalent of 1.25 per cent over four years because the board had not been given a pay rise since 2010.

He said changing from a nine-day fortnight to a 19-day four-week cycle – effectively removing one rostered day off for staff – would keep Unitywater competitive and help keep its services affordable.

“This change does not mean the staff will work any more hours,” he said.

Unitywater customers in Moreton Bay, Noosa and the Sunshine Coast were hit with 5 per cent price increases this year, including a 13 per cent increase in the State Government’s bulk water charges.

For an average household using 166 kilolitres of water a year, Sunshine Coast residents were hit with a $69 hike, which brought their bills to $1337, while Moreton Bay residents were slugged $1689, up $83.

Tenants at a high set property situated in Anzac Avenue, Redcliffe have contacted Unitywater on several occasions to address a major issue they are having with their water supply.

The tenants state their water supply is erratic, with it cutting out many times each day for up to 40 minutes.  This has been an ongoing issue since July, since Unitywater replaced their water meter.  An example was provided where on Tuesday 15th July the following times were recorded:

Off                         On

8.30am                  8.45

8.55                       9.00

9.02                       9.05

9.30                       9.36

9.45                       9.47

10.00                     10.01

10.18                     10.20

10.40                     10.43

11.50                     12.30pm

12.38                     1.00

1.10                       1.15

1.20                       1.25

3.10                       3.15

6.15                       6.17

6.35                       6.40

6.50                       7.00

7.55                       8.00

8.15                       8.25

9.05                       9.10

11.15pm                 11.20

Unitywater initially organised for a replacement meter, and subsequently the plumber who replaced the water meter stated the loss of pressure was due to galvinised pipes.  This has been proven false as upon further inspection the pipes are copper. 

Furthermore, Unitywater has been charging for 100% service, but as can be seen by this above example, it would difficult for these people to plan their basic hygiene and cooking needs based around this erratic timetable, leading us to believe that the service has not been appropriately provided as expected of a professional specialist company. Unitywater should reimburse paid dues and investigate and fix the problem immediately.

Dennis Austen, President of the Ratepayers Action Group Moreton Bay, has stated that he approached the CEO of Unitywater before releasing this to the press in an effort to try and sort the problem, but no reply was received.  Furthermore, owing to their lack of response, this matter will be going before the courts.  The Ratepayers Action Group would be interested to hear from any other ratepayers in the Moreton Bay region that are having similar problems with their water supply.  Please contact via new email

LIES, LIES AND MORE LIES

The Water Forum meeting at the Bribie Island RSL on March 14th.was attended by over 500 angry residents .The officials at the meeting included the Minister for water / the Mayor / the chairman & CEO of Unitywater / Local MP / approx.9 councillors / approx. 6 Unitywater staff / the minister's staff / & 3 members of police .

This meeting was not advertised in any of the local newspapers & Three media persons attended. One has to ask why there was no advert in the newspapers & answer is.. they tried to keep the meeting as a quite affair. If there had been an advert & the meeting held at reasonable time . the attendance could have doubled. 80% of the attendees were from outside Bribie.

The minister/ the mayor / & Unitywater chairman had a tough time controlling the meeting.

The result of the was the minister stated that Unitywater will not be returned to the council & he is forming a committee to try to lower Unitywater costs, good luck on this matter.

The LNP will have a tough time at the next election in Moreton Bay Region. They promised to areas a chance to de-amalgamate & give Unitywater back to the council. They have gone back on their promises. 

The minister has promised next Water Forum to be in The Hills area.

At the Bribie meeting a number people told the RAG president that they were starting their own protest by refusing to pay the odd cents on each bill they received.

RAG is now calling for candidates for the next council elections in March 2016.

CM QLD News and Photos

Unitywater bosses in cash splash

• by: Matthew Killoran, Sarah Vogler
• From: The Courier-Mail
• September 25, 2014 12:00AM 
•  

Former Brisbane Mayor and Unitywater chair Jim Soorley. Source: News Limited

SIX Unitywater bosses were awarded $280,000 in performance bonuses, while ratepayers were slugged with skyrocketing water bills.

The water retailer's CEO George Theo, whose salary now tops $368,000, was one of the bureaucrats who cashed in on the bonuses revealed in Unitywater's annual report, which was tabled in Parliament last night.

Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland said the high bonuses were "extremely disappointing", but Unitywater chair Jim Soorley said they were justified and rejected any comparison of bonuses to water prices.

Mr Theo, as well as five other top executives, took home a combined $280,581 in extra cash on top of their salary - which averages out at more than $46,600 each.

It was up $60,000 on the total bonuses paid out last year, which is an almost 30 per cent increase.

Little explanation is given for the basis of the cash splash, other than "achievements of corporate, divisional and individual targets".

It comes in the same year that Unitywater customers, residents of Moreton Bay, Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, were slugged with 5 per cent water price increases, well in excess of CPI.

Based on an average home using 166 kilolitres of water a year, Sunshine Coast residents were hit with a $69 hike, which brought their bill up to $1337, while Moreton Bay residents were slugged $1689, which is up $83.

Unitywater put its consumption charge and fixed charges up 3.5 per cent, while the State Government's bulk water charges increased up to 13 per cent. Cr Sutherland said the bonus payouts sent the wrong signal.

"I'm extremely disappointed that when we're trying to keep prices low, highly paid executives are getting so-called bonuses," he said.

Mr Soorley said executives worked hard to keep costs and prices down. "The Unitywater team has done an extremely good job," he said.

FORUM FOLLOW UP!