G-MW welcomes State Government Drought Relief Package
Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) has welcomed the drought relief package announced by the State Government yesterday and is particularly pleased to see rebates for fixed water charges and funds to cover the cost of pumping Waranga Basin. G-MW is already streamlining customer access to the rebate on 2007/08 fixed water charges.
G-MW Chairman Stephen Mills said the relief package would provide much needed support to irrigators across the Goulburn-Murray region. G-MW is already working to deliver the assistance as quickly and efficiently as possible to eligible customers on the Murray, Goulburn, Campaspe, Loddon, Broken and Bullarook regulated systems. These systems are not expected to reach an allocation of 40 percent by 1 December.
G-MW Managing Director Russell Cooper said, "We are already factoring the rebate into the accounts that will be issued to customers from next week - customers won't need to make separate applications or complete additional paperwork in order to receive the rebate."
If any of the systems' allocations subsequently exceed 40 percent by 1 December, G-MW will issue adjustment accounts at that stage.
"We would need to see a significant improvement in the current seasonal conditions for this to happen," said Mr Cooper.
Under the drought relief package, eligible rural water users receiving less than 40 percent allocation of their normal entitlement as at 1 December will be eligible for a rebate of up to $1000 on their fixed water charges, with a 50 per cent rebate on any balance above $1000. The rebate only applies to fixed water charges and will apply to each separately serviced property.
G-MW also welcomed the Government's commitment of $2.6 million to fund pumping of the Waranga Basin to supplement supplies in the Goulburn System.
"Pumping will not commence until the tail end of the irrigation season, around March 2008, but we will immediately begin installing the pumps and infrastructure to meet these time frames," said Mr Cooper.
Mr Cooper explained that G-MW had already factored the additional 7 percent of supply that will come from pumping Waranga Basin into Goulburn System allocations following support from G-MW customers at G-MW's Industry Forum in August.
"The Government's funding means Goulburn System irrigators already facing the second consecutive year of record low allocations will not bear the additional financial burden of the pumping costs," said Mr Cooper.
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