Shadow Minister for Water Utilities, Chris Hartcher, today released details of an IPART submission regarding Tillegra Dam which will mean Central Coast ratepayers will be paying a lot more for water.

“Just like the people of Sydney will have to pay more in their water rates to pay for Iemma’s Sydney white elephant, the Kurnell Desalination Plant, now Central Coast residents are going to be asked to pay for their white elephant, Tillegra Dam,” said Chris Hartcher.

“ Sydney residents are going to have to pay an additional $5 per week on their water rates bills, rising to an additional $10 a week. IPART is now considering submissions on the water costs for the Hunter, including Tillegra Dam.

“IPART is clearly going to look at water pricing to cover the cost of the $344 million dam. The Government has only committed to paying $26 million. The balance of $318 million can only come from the ratepayers.

“When asked in Parliament who would pay the $318 million the Government said, ‘IPART would determine it’ (question in Parliament attached). It is now clear from submissions that IPART will be looking at passing it on to ratepayers,” said Mr Hartcher.

“ Central Coast residents are already going to pay for the missing link pipeline with Federal Government funding covering $80 million of the $110 million cost. This leaves a further $30 million to be paid by ratepayers on the Central Coast.

“There are approximately 130,000 ratepayers in Gosford and Wyong Council regions. This leaves IPART open to increase Central Coast water rates by up to $163 per year for 15 years to cover the $318 million shortfall.

“ Central Coast residents can also expect an increase in their water rates to cover the $30 million shortfall for the ‘missing link pipeline’. I am sure residents would be willing to pay a small increase for the pipeline on the Central Coast, but not an extra $163 a year for a dam we don’t need.

“In 2004 Hunter Water estimated that it would take at least 20 years for Tillegra Dam to be built and operational. This is not the solution to the Central Coast’s water issues. The Central Coast is already drought proofing itself with the ‘Missing Link Pipeline’. Central Coast residents didn’t ask for Tillegra Dam, nor should they pay for it,” said Chris Hartcher.

“Tillegra Dam is Premier Iemma’s dam, he should pay for it,” said Mr Hartcher.