TCC bids to reduce cost of pumping

TOWNSVILLE City Council will work with the State Government to find ways to further reduce the cost of pumping from the Burdekin.

A council spokesman said the organisation would work with the Department of Natural Resources and Ergon Energy to get the best tariff possible for the region’s water pumping needs.

Ratepayers are paying about $ 35,000 a day to pump water, with the Ross Dam sitting at 14 per cent of capacity.

The move is being made amid speculation that councils could apply for drought relief assistance funding from the Government to subsidise pumping costs.

However the department said there was no scheme specifically for councils.

“A cheaper tariff for our water pumping has been achieved in previous years but was not provided this financial year,” the council spokesman said.

“Council will also work with the department to find any further available cost savings in relation to our water pumping program.”

A department spokesman said there had been a significant reduction in costs for pumping after Ergon Energy “optimised” the applicable retail tariffs in 2016.

“It is important to note that since the Burdekin Haughton pipeline was constructed in 1988, council has used the pipeline on just three occasions to pump water from the Burdekin to supplement its local supply,” they said.

A Local Government Association Queensland spokesman said drought relief funding was aimed at primary producers.

“The LGAQ has investigated this issue and has found no program or fund related to drought relief that the council might access,” he said.