Unitywater freezes water and sewerage usage prices for the seventh year in a row for Sunshine Coast and Noosa customers

Unitywater has frozen its usage charges for water and sewerage for the seventh consecutive year as part of its ongoing commitment to keeping customers’ bills as low as possible.

Unitywater Chairman Michael Arnett said the utility froze all water and sewerage prices last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and water and sewerage usage charges were frozen for five consecutive years prior to that.

“Our priority is maintaining high-quality, safe and reliable services for our customers, while working to keep bills low for these essential services,” Mr Arnett said.

The average Sunshine Coast and Noosa customer will pay about 1.4% more per annum, or $20, which includes a $15, or 3.5%, increase in the State Government bulk water price. State Government bulk water charges are passed through to Unitywater customers at cost.

Unitywater will keep its sewerage access charges frozen for the second consecutive year, with a slight increase in water access charges by $5 per annum.

The average 2021-22 bill for a Sunshine Coast and Noosa residential household (using 139kL per year or 380L per day) will be $1,440 up from $1,420 in 2020-21.

Usage charges on the average customer’s bill are about 43%, which gives customers more power when it comes to lowering their bill by reducing consumption.

Unitywater Chief Executive Officer George Theo said the utility continues to support customers during the ongoing uncertainty of COVID-19 and the impacts of the pandemic.

“We encourage customers who may have trouble paying their bill to contact us as soon as possible so that we can help them,” Mr Theo said.

Over the next five years, Unitywater will invest close to $1 billion in water and sewerage infrastructure across their service region.

Mr Theo said the utility continues to invest in the network, focussing on sustainable outcomes for the community, while keeping prices as low as possible for customers.

“Unitywater plans to invest about $229 million on its water supply and sewerage infrastructure during 2021-22,” he said.

“Some of the water and sewerage network investment will be directed to projects accommodating growth, including emerging communities like Aura and Harmony.”

“This year, more than one third (34%) of the capital investment will go towards renewing infrastructure to ensure our current assets perform at the standards required to meet customers’ needs.

The 2021-22 prices come into effect on 1 July 2021 and full details can be found at www.unitywater.com/pricing

What Sunshine Coast and Noosa customers could pay in 2021-22