Water prices set to soar

CASEY water customers can expect further hikes in the price of water.
South East Water customers will face a 14 per cent price rise, about $100 extra a year for the average customer.
South Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Inga Peulich said the State Government was concerned about the impact the rising price of water was having on vulnerable Victorians.
“Some of the biggest price increases will be felt in the local community with Labor leaving behind a price rise of 14 per cent for South East Water customers,” Ms Peulich said.
“These price increases are locked in as part of the five-year water plans developed under the Brumby Government.”
Ms Peulich said the Coalition Government was trying to ease the burden for the most vulnerable by boosting concessions for low-income households in the coming financial year.
“From July 1, the Coalition Government will increase concessions for water and sewerage at a cost of $62.9 million to help more than 700,000 households,” she said.
“It is estimated that an additional 32,000 households will receive water and sewerage concessions for the first time this coming financial year.”
Ms Peulich said the government’s key focus was on increasing the city’s use of stormwater and recycling water to make households more self-sufficient and help them to reduce their water use.