Broken, Campaspe, Loddon and Bullarook customers asked to NOT pay their 2009/10 Fixed Water Charge Accounts!

Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) is asking customers on the Broken, Campaspe, Loddon, and Bullarook systems to delay payments on their 2009/10 Fixed Water Charge Accounts until after 1 December when they will receive an adjusted account from G-MW.

This unusual request follows the very welcome announcement by the Victorian Government of its 2009 drought assistance package. The rebate eligibility criteria are the same as for 2008/09 and will be available to customers who have access to less than 30% of their entitlements on 1 December 2009.

G-MW Managing Director David Stewart said, "On some of these systems it has been at least 4 years since customers saw a 100% allocation and on the Campapse it's been even longer. In these circumstances the assistance is extremely welcome for these customers and their communities".

"The Government's announcement will potentially see more than $3 million dollars provided to around 2,000 customers on G-MW's Broken, Campaspe, Loddon, and Bullarook regulated systems and a further 4,000 customers on some of our unregulated systems," said Mr Stewart.

G-MW has confirmed customers do not need to apply for the rebate.

"We will apply the rebate to all eligible customers' accounts once the 1 December water availability is known.
G-MW will issue amended accounts to eligible customers and the accounts will reflect any payments and instalments already made. Customers can apply for a refund if their account is in credit at that time," said Mr Stewart.

Importantly, G-MW will delay issuing the second instalment notices to customers on the Broken, Campaspe,  Loddon and Bullarook systems who may be eligible for the rebate and had opted to pay their annual account in four equal instalments.

"We will issue adjusted second instalment notices to eligible customers after 1 December. If any or all of these systems have allocations of 30% or greater on 1 December or if a customer is ineligible for the rebate because they are a listed company or a managed investment scheme, they will need to complete their instalment program.

G-MW will also extend payment due dates for the eligible customers.  Second instalment payments and payments in full will be delayed to 16 January. Third and fourth instalment payments will be due on 16 February and 16 March respectively.

Existing payment arrangements and dates are unchanged for all other customers including the Murray and Goulburn regulated systems.

Mr Stewart explained that customers right across the region were experiencing a very challenging season.  Customers who already have access to allocations of more than 30% and would not qualify for the rebate may be eligible for other components of the Government's $47 million Drought Assistance Package.

"I understand that some customers in the Murray and Goulburn systems may be disappointed at not receiving the rebate, and we recognise that many customers are still facing extremely difficult conditions, but the improved access to water will be far more valuable to their farm businesses," said Mr Stewart.

Mr Stewart encouraged any G-MW customers experiencing financial hardship to contact G-MW on
1300 553 200 to discuss possible arrangements.

The Government Drought Rebate assistance is available to the following eligible rural water customers:

• Irrigators supplied by regulated systems who are receiving less than 30% of their normal entitlement based on the 1 December 2009 water allocation announcement.
• Regulated surface water diverters receiving less than 30% of their normal entitlement based on the 1 December 2009 announcement.
• Stock and domestic customers supplied by regulated systems that are operating at less than 30% of their normal allocation based on the 1 December 2009 announcement.
• Groundwater diverters within the Water Supply Protection Areas who are receiving less than an amount equivalent to 30% of their normal entitlement as at 1 December 2009.
• Unregulated surface water diverters likely to receive less than 30% of their water as assessed by the water corporation on 1 December 2009.

Details on any drought related service or assistance are available from the Drought Information Line on

phone 136 186 or at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/drought

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Media Contact:       Sheree Fitzgerald

Position:                   Corporate Communications Adviser    

Telephone:               03 5833 5754