Farmers are set to pay less for water after an announcement welcomed by NSW state Member for Murray Helen Dalton.
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The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal draft WaterNSW pricing determination released last week proposes only a 1.9 per cent rise in the water price in 2025-26, plus inflation.
Water prices would then increase only by inflation for the two years following.
“This issue has been cause for concern for primary producers for some time,” Ms Dalton said.
“IPART’s proposed exorbitant price increases would have priced farmers out of business and Aussie food off our shelves.”
On Wednesday, May 14, IPART released an information paper containing its proposed water price increases.
The agency is seeking feedback on the proposed shorter term water prices that will be in place for the next three years.
Ms Dalton called the outcome a great win for everyone.
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ALVIN WONG
“Our information paper and WaterNSW’s pricing proposal are available on IPART’s website. We welcome community feedback via IPART’s website until June 3,” tribunal chair Carmel Donnelly said.
“We are also undertaking financial analysis to ensure the draft shorter-term prices will enable WaterNSW to meet its obligations.”
Meanwhile, Ms Dalton said great outcomes could be achieved with persistence.
“It’s not just meetings; I used Private Members’ Statements in parliament to implore IPART to reassess their water bill prices and the government to act, and it seems they listened,” she said.
“They have acted in the best interests of rural and regional NSW and I consider that a massive win for everyone.
“I am offering Minister [Murray] Watt the opportunity that the former Minister for Water Tanya Plibersek repeatedly declined. The opportunity to visit us in the southern basin, listen to our needs and see first hand what we do here.”
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