❓ Mr. Logan questions the Minister for Water about potential increases in water service charges due to fire hydrant costs, which the Minister denies, stating funding will come from the FESA levy.
AnsweredQoN 226Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WATER SERVICE CHARGE — FIRE HYDRANTS
226. Mr F.M. LOGAN to the Minister for Water:
I refer to the minister's revelation last night that,
on top of the 47 per cent increase in water charges, the government's
landfill levy and the increases in sewerage and drainage charges, Western
Australian families face another increase in their water service charges from
the added cost of installing and maintaining fire hydrants.
(1) How much exactly will householders be charged for this
new fire hydrant cost?
(2) If 84 000
families asked for more time to pay their water bills last year, what does the
minister think this new charge will do for already struggling families?
226. Mr F.M. LOGAN to the Minister for Water:
I refer to the minister's revelation last night that,
on top of the 47 per cent increase in water charges, the government's
landfill levy and the increases in sewerage and drainage charges, Western
Australian families face another increase in their water service charges from
the added cost of installing and maintaining fire hydrants.
(1) How much exactly will householders be charged for this
new fire hydrant cost?
(2) If 84 000
families asked for more time to pay their water bills last year, what does the
minister think this new charge will do for already struggling families?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Cockburn for the question, which was
highly unpredictable! It was a very misleading question.
(1)–(2)
The simple answer is nil, but I can give a bit of background. For the
information of members in this house, the member for Cockburn is referring to
clause 97 of the Water Services Bill, in particular proposed subclause (8).
Currently, the hydrants are managed by the Fire and Emergency Services
Authority of Western Australia. Recommendation 50 of the Keelty report—we
are implementing all the Keelty report recommendations, including this one—is
to transfer the responsibility for fire hydrants to the water utilities. The
issue that was raised late last night at about 10 o'clock in relation
to proposed clause 97(7) and (8) was how that will be funded. I can tell the
member and the house that it will be funded by transferring to the Water
Corporation the component of the FESA emergency services levy relating to
hydrants. There will be absolutely no cost to consumers.
highly unpredictable! It was a very misleading question.
(1)–(2)
The simple answer is nil, but I can give a bit of background. For the
information of members in this house, the member for Cockburn is referring to
clause 97 of the Water Services Bill, in particular proposed subclause (8).
Currently, the hydrants are managed by the Fire and Emergency Services
Authority of Western Australia. Recommendation 50 of the Keelty report—we
are implementing all the Keelty report recommendations, including this one—is
to transfer the responsibility for fire hydrants to the water utilities. The
issue that was raised late last night at about 10 o'clock in relation
to proposed clause 97(7) and (8) was how that will be funded. I can tell the
member and the house that it will be funded by transferring to the Water
Corporation the component of the FESA emergency services levy relating to
hydrants. There will be absolutely no cost to consumers.
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