Desal to ‘double local water bills’

Kim Waters
WATER bills will “more than double” after Geelong households begin helping pay off a $3.5 million desalination plant at Wonthaggi next year, the state opposition has warned.
Shadow minister for country water resources Peter Walsh said Geelong bills would include a “substantial” increase over the next five years to cover State Government funding for the plant.
Mr Walsh provided his estimate of the cost to Geelong households after State Government again refused to reveal how much it expected bills to rise after completion of the plant.
The Government will hook Geelong into desalinated water prices after connecting the city to Melbourne’s supply with a $138 million pipeline next year.
The desalination plant, Australia’s biggest construction project, will supply 150 billion litres of water a year by the end of 2011.
“By putting in the Melbourne-Geelong interconnected pipeline the Government is forcing Geelong water users into paying for the desalination plant,” Mr Walsh said.
“This will have to be paid for by Barwon Water customers whether the region uses the water or not.”
Mr Walsh accused the Brumby Government of “doing nothing for quite a few years” to secure water for the region.
Water Minister Tim Holding said the Government had no influence over how much bills would increase because the Essential Services Commission was responsible for setting water prices.
The Government had contributed $20 million to the pipe project to keep prices down for Geelong, he said.
“The Government’s intention is to move all towns in Victoria off water restrictions.”
Barwon Water managing director Michael Malouf said any project to “improve water security” would affect prices.