Gippsland Water has released a five year plan for its 2018 to 2023 operations that relies on a customer-centric approach, following extensive community engagement and feedback.
Gippsland Water’s General Manager Customer Services and Communications, Paul Clark, said that the plan marked a new era of community engagement for the organisation.
“Over the past 18 months, we’ve been talking to our community about what is important to them. Above all else, our customers told us that they want us to provide them with pure, clean drinking water and reliable removal of their wastewater.
“Those conversations have guided our thinking about the projects and programs that will be priorities for Gippsland Water in the next five years and beyond,” Mr Clark said.
The plan encompasses improvements to customer services, environmental protections, and several major projects for the region. A new sewer pump station for Sale, new water mains for Warragul and a new wastewater treatment plant for Drouin are all included, along with ongoing maintenance and renewal of the region’s water and sewer systems.
The five year plan also introduces the price that Gippsland Water intends to charge customers for water and wastewater services from 2018-2023.
Excluding CPI, Gippsland Water is planning to increase the average annual household bill for water and wastewater by $8 per year for the next five years.
“We’ll submit our draft plan to the Essential Services Commission for approval in September, and we’ll keep our customers informed about the outcome,” Mr Clark said.
