TasWater has announced seven strategic recommendations from its community. 

The suggestions arise from 18 months of community consultation, with a 45-member panel deliberating over five days. 

The panel synthesised input from 8,000 community interactions, site visits, workshops, and expert briefings to shape priorities for TasWater's Price and Service Plan 5 (PSP5).

The report outlines the following  core recommendations:  

  1. Ensuring sustainable water access and minimising environmental harm through infrastructure upgrades

  2. Promoting water-saving practices via educational programs and government-backed incentives

  3. Raising visibility for the TasWater Assist Program, aiding customers with payment flexibility amid rising prices

  4. Accelerating digital metering for better water management, contingent on demonstrable benefits

  5. Shifting towards a usage-based pricing model while supporting vulnerable customers

  6. Focusing on preventive infrastructure care to enhance reliability and cost-efficiency

  7. Addressing service gaps in unserviced communities through equitable water and sewage solutions

The recommendations are set to guide TasWater’s submission to the Tasmanian Economic Regulator next year.

TasWater's General Manager for Customer and Community, Matt Balfe, said TasWater welcomed the rigorous discussions during the process, facilitated by tools including a bill simulator to explore pricing impacts.

TasWater plans to invest $1.9 billion over five years to strengthen its network. 

The recommendations show public expectations for TasWater to balance fair pricing with robust and sustainable services amid challenges like climate change and population growth.  

The panel also recorded dissenting views. 

Some members expressed affordability concerns over digital metering, advocating for opt-in programs and solar-powered options to reduce environmental impact. 

Others emphasised the need for enhanced disaster preparedness, which was excluded in the final recommendations.  

TasWater says its Price and Service Plan 5 will integrate these insights, ensuring the priorities of Tasmanians are reflected in long-term infrastructure planning.  

The full report is accessible here.

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