$2.4 million annual increase for businesses on TasWater sewerage fees
Business owners in Tasmania face a 500 per cent rise in fixed sewerage charges, costing the average business an extra $2.4 million annually.
Businesses operating in northern Tasmania are facing a dramatic surge in sewerage costs after a bill adjustment brought their rates into line with other states. One manager of a steel fabrication firm reported that fixed sewerage expenses jumped from $630 per month to $3,800 per month, representing a 500 per cent increase. This change results in an additional $40,000 annually for that single business. Lyndall Healey, who managed the account initially assuming an error, questioned whether anyone had consulted stakeholders before the policy took effect. The Trevallyn Parks and Improvement Association, representing sports clubs operating for a decade, saw its fixed sewerage bill increase by $1,400 quarterly. This specific club recorded a $335 monthly rise in charges. The association expressed deep concern regarding the survival of their facilities under these new financial pressures.
