❓ Mr. Stephens raises concerns about a large water bill faced by Red Sands Park unit owners due to undetected leaks. The Minister acknowledges the issue, commits to reviewing the case for extenuating circumstances, but also emphasizes responsible water usage and taxpayer costs.
AnsweredQoN 142Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RED SANDS PARK, NEWMAN — WATER SUPPLY
I refer to the representations the minister has received on behalf of the 38 individual unit owners of the complex known as Red Sands Park in Newman, who are faced with a water bill in excess of $220 000 due to undetected water leaks from the deteriorating pipes laid on a rocky base. (1) Does the minister think it is acceptable for the owners of the units at Red Sands Park to be lobbed with a $220 445 bill, considering that once they became aware of the leak, they did everything possible to ensure that the problem was fixed? (2) Why will the minister not intervene to ensure that the bill is significantly reduced? Dr G.G. JACOBS
I refer to the representations the minister has received on behalf of the 38 individual unit owners of the complex known as Red Sands Park in Newman, who are faced with a water bill in excess of $220 000 due to undetected water leaks from the deteriorating pipes laid on a rocky base. (1) Does the minister think it is acceptable for the owners of the units at Red Sands Park to be lobbed with a $220 445 bill, considering that once they became aware of the leak, they did everything possible to ensure that the problem was fixed? (2) Why will the minister not intervene to ensure that the bill is significantly reduced? Dr G.G. JACOBS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question. (1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
(1) Does the minister think it is acceptable for the owners of the units at Red Sands Park to be lobbed with a $220 445 bill, considering that once they became aware of the leak, they did everything possible to ensure that the problem was fixed? (2) Why will the minister not intervene to ensure that the bill is significantly reduced? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
(2) Why will the minister not intervene to ensure that the bill is significantly reduced? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
I thank the member for his question. (1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
(1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
(1) Does the minister think it is acceptable for the owners of the units at Red Sands Park to be lobbed with a $220 445 bill, considering that once they became aware of the leak, they did everything possible to ensure that the problem was fixed? (2) Why will the minister not intervene to ensure that the bill is significantly reduced? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
(2) Why will the minister not intervene to ensure that the bill is significantly reduced? Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
Dr G.G. JACOBS replied: I thank the member for his question. (1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
I thank the member for his question. (1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
(1)–(2) I do not know the specific details of the member’s question. Obviously, this issue comes up a bit; in fact, I have been presented with a similar issue about a water bill in Myalup by both the member for Murray–Wellington and the member for Cockburn, who is the shadow Minister for Water. It is the responsibility of the minister to see what is fair and reasonable, and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. The other side of the coin is that we have to be responsible in our use of water. If I were to waive every water excess in Western Australia, it would send the wrong message. I know that the member for Cockburn says that it does not matter because it is all part of the water cycle and that it belongs to the state. However, there are taxpayer costs in finding the water, allocating it properly and responsibly, and delivering water in reticulation systems for which the residents’ side of the meter is the responsibility of residents. I will give an undertaking to the member to look at this issue to see whether it is fair and whether there are any extenuating circumstances. If there are any extenuating circumstances, I will ask the Water Corporation to take them into consideration.
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