Water services and the PBA process

April 23rd, 2009

The Public Benefit Assessment process is coloured by the report that is supposed to give an outline of the current state of our water service providers and help guide us in making recommendations for the future. The document is long winded and yes full of ‘corporate speak’. A shorter document may have been easier to deal with and to understand.

I think the main points raised within the report are valid but we are trying to compare apples with oranges. I think both water service providers have done a good job providing services to our community under the constraints or advantages that they worked under prior to amalgamation.

I will be focussing on what form our new combined entity should take so that it can concentrate on providing excellent innovative but cost effective services to all of us into the future. I want to select the most effective structure that enables independence without incurring extra costs that the community has to pay for and an unnecessary extra layer of bureaucracy.

I abhor the ‘silo mentality’ that easily develops in larger organisations and leads to one department not knowing what the other department is up to. This can lead to situations like we saw recently where a brand new footpath was ripped up months after being laid for some pipes to be installed underneath. Better co-ordination between Council departments and associated bodies, should ensure that proper timing of projects eliminates what simply amounts to a waste of money. Money that we the community ultimately pay!

So I do encourage you to simply put your thoughts to paper and advise Council of your opinion. If you don’t want to read the entire PBA documentation you don’t have to. Quite simply just write and let us know what you think in general terms. I look forward to much input. Thanks, Sue

Written submissions must be received by 1 May 2009 and mailed to the Chief Executive Officer, PO Box 1943, Hervey Bay or delivered to customer service centres in Hervey Bay or Maryborough. Envelopes should be marked Public Benefit Assessment – Water Business.  Submissions can also be emailed to enquiry@frasercoast.qld.gov.au

One Response to “Water services and the PBA process”

  1. # Sadmanon 24 Apr 2009 at 6:11 am

    Sue,
    If council chooses the option of a council run water board, what is to stop
    a repeat of the FCW situation where council hived of money for other things.
    Allowing the water and sewerage systems to decay?

    If council takes water & sewerage back under it’s wing, how will they address
    the wage differntial between the two water boards? How will other council staff
    in similar jobs or clssifications view one group getting paid more than them?

    What impact will the increased debt (our debt + WBW’s), have on council?

    Without the answer to these and many other questions, how can we
    (ratepayers), really comment?

    Sadman

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