Nats member Catania claims Carnarvon growers’ water fees to rise 89pc

Carnarvon growers could be facing bore water price hikes of up to 89 per cent, North West Central member Vince Catania says. He labelled the WA Government “out of touch” with regional issues after it proposed water price rises for Carnarvon growers coupled with a 2.5 per cent increase for non-residential water costs from July 1. Mr Catania made the claim after a WA Nationals review of Water Corporation operating licence and regional water costs. “It’s disappointing the Government has proposed a hefty increase to the cost of bulk water for growers using water from the southern bore fields,” Mr Catania said. “The Gascoyne Water Co-operative has worked hard to ensure members’ water charges have held steady since 2015 with minor increases in 2019 and 2020, but the Labor Government wants to change this and increase bills.” Mr Catania said the 170 GWC members paid an average 39¢ per kilolitre. He called on the WA Government to freeze increases to water charges applied to the southern bore field over the next four years. He said his party would commit to prioritising an independent review of Water Corporation pricing for regional customers. “We will continue to work with growers and businesses to find ways to make this precious necessity cheaper and more equitable,” Mr Catania said. “In an effort to continue to maintain downward pressure on water costs from the southern bore field, it seems the GWC is holding their ground.” According to the Gascoyne Water Co-operative, the initial Water Corporation proposal was to increase the bulk water charge from $843,547 charged for the 2019-20 financial year by about 189 per cent to $2.43 million per year. “The most recent proposed charge is $1.59m per year, which is still an 89 per cent increase,” it said in a GWC newsletter. GWC general manager Eddie Smith declined to comment on ongoing negotiations. Water Minister Dave Kelly said if the Nationals wanted to propose a new water pricing structure they should do so, then it could be costed and considered before the election.