By Jeremy Sollars
More Warwick ratepayers connected to the Southern Downs Regional Council’s ‘restricted flow’ water supply have come forward in protest at a $720 disconnection fee charged by the council.
As reported a fortnight ago in the Free Times, a Rosenthal Heights ratepayer contacted us to vent frustration at the cost of the restricted flow service, saying they were completely self-sufficient when it came to water and objected to paying nearly $400 a year for water they don’t use.
Numerous properties in the Rosenthal Heights and surrounding areas on the fringe of Warwick are supplied with town water through the ‘restricted flow service’ – a small-gauge poly pipe network which delivers town water at a lower rate than town-based residences.
The council currently charges $386.70 per year for each restricted flow connection, and the owner of any unconnected block within 100 metres of the pipe network is hit up for $290.
But if ratepayers choose to disconnect from the supply, they are slugged with a fee of $720.
The first Rosenthal Heights resident, who spoke to the Free Times on the condition of anonymity, said they installed three 5000 gallon rainwater tanks on their property since building their house in 2007.
“I am a single person, and I am completely self-sufficient for water,” the resident said.
“I am totally confident that even in extreme drought conditions, I would have sufficient water.
“So why should I have to pay $193 every six months for a water service I don’t need and don’t want?
“The only time I have ever used the water was when I first built and moved into the house and I filled up one of my tanks.
“I have 350 square metres of catchment from the house and the sheds – this gives me all the water I require.
“I would disconnect (from the restricted flow supply), but I’m not going to pay $720.”
Since our original story, two more Rosenthal Heights ratepayers have contacted the Free Times saying they too wish to disconnect from the restricted flow service, but are baulking at the disconnection fee.
Both have recently moved to the area from out of town – one from the Gold Coast hinterland and another from Brisbane – both live by themselves and are staggered not only at the water charges but council rates in general.
The former Brisbane resident said they had only paid $160 half-yearly for water – after receiving a pensioner discount not offered here – and both said they had sufficient rainwater capacity to be able to do without the restricted flow service.
The former Gold Coast resident said they “just about died” when they opened their first water bill recently, and that their general rates on the Coast were $800 annually, compared with around $2000 a year for similar properties.
They both also agreed that the $720 disconnection fee was excessive.
For the original story, a council spokeswoman confirmed the supply and disconnection fees in a statement to the Free Times.
* We’d like to hear from any other interested ratepayers on the restricted flow network – if you have similar views or concerns, call Free Times editor Jeremy Sollars on 4661 9800.
