❓ Mr. Catania questions high Water Corporation service charges for a regional motel with low occupancy. The Minister defends the charges, citing property size and historical practices under the National Party.
AnsweredQoN 332Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER CORPORATION—
SERVICE CHARGES
332. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Water:
I have a supplementary question.
Can the minister explain to the owners of a motel in regional Western Australia why he allows the Water Corporation to
continue charging them $7 746 per billing, per period, for 73 toilets—that is $46 000 a year—in addition to water in and water out charges when
occupancy is sitting between five and 10 per cent?
SERVICE CHARGES
332. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Water:
I have a supplementary question.
Can the minister explain to the owners of a motel in regional Western Australia why he allows the Water Corporation to
continue charging them $7 746 per billing, per period, for 73 toilets—that is $46 000 a year—in addition to water in and water out charges when
occupancy is sitting between five and 10 per cent?
AnswerView source ↗
I am not sure what more I can say to
the member for North West Central. He should understand how the system works. Accommodation providers pay more for their
sewerage charges, basically based on the size of their property . The
more room they have, the more they pay. That is exactly the way the National
Party charged for those services in
Carnarvon when he was in government. To not do that, to charge all businesses
the same, regardless of the number of fixtures they have, would mean an
increase in wastewater charges for every other business. If he wants the little
cafes in Carnarvon —
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, I am sure you will be a very good radio commentator
when you finish, but not here.
Mr D.J. KELLY : If
accommodation services, seasonal businesses, produce a peak flow, the
wastewater system has to be able to cope with peak flows.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr D.J. KELLY : Members
opposite in the National Party know that this is exactly how the system
operated when they were in government. They know that if we do not charge this
way, it will mean that every other business in town will have to have its
charges increased. If that is what the member for North West Central wants, he
should write to me and we will look at it.
the member for North West Central. He should understand how the system works. Accommodation providers pay more for their
sewerage charges, basically based on the size of their property . The
more room they have, the more they pay. That is exactly the way the National
Party charged for those services in
Carnarvon when he was in government. To not do that, to charge all businesses
the same, regardless of the number of fixtures they have, would mean an
increase in wastewater charges for every other business. If he wants the little
cafes in Carnarvon —
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, I am sure you will be a very good radio commentator
when you finish, but not here.
Mr D.J. KELLY : If
accommodation services, seasonal businesses, produce a peak flow, the
wastewater system has to be able to cope with peak flows.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr D.J. KELLY : Members
opposite in the National Party know that this is exactly how the system
operated when they were in government. They know that if we do not charge this
way, it will mean that every other business in town will have to have its
charges increased. If that is what the member for North West Central wants, he
should write to me and we will look at it.
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