Loo rate ‘catastrophe’
MOTELIERS are warning of business failures in the sector if the burden of high charges for wastewater in Townsville is not relieved.
But the Townsville City Council is holding firm, offering deferrals and interest-free payment plans as part of a new “hardship” policy.
City Oasis Inn operator Brendan Carter said wastewater costs — where they paid a fixed price of $945 per pedestal — accounted for almost 40 per cent of his entire revenue for June.
“The word I use is catastrophic,” Mr Carter said.
“We are all trimming our costs but with this cost there’s no movement — even when the toilets are not being used.”
Banjo Paterson Motor Inn operator Annette Langdon said they were in a terrible plight, having suffered badly from last year’s floods and now with months of downtime from COVID-19.
She said they had made sacrifices, their landlord and suppliers had helped with discounts, waivers and support but that the council had provided nothing.
“Everyone seems to have suffered but the council. We need the council to step up and help,” Ms Langdon said.
But a Townsville council spokesman denied the council had delivered nothing.
“Immediately after the pandemic impacted our city, council implemented a multimillion-dollar support package, which included the ability for ratepayers, including businesses, to seek a deferral,” the spokesman said.
The spokesman said the council’s 2020-21 budget included a freeze on wastewater charges, a new hardship policy and new rating categories with an average 6 per cent reduction in general rates.
The council also helped motels by supporting sporting and cultural events.
The spokesman said wastewater charges reflected the cost of constructing, operating, maintaining and managing the wastewater system, which unlike most other councils, was held to a higher standard because of the city’s proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
“Townsville’s pedestal charges — $806 for residential and $945 for non-residential — are similar to other councils along the Great Barrier Reef,” the spokesman said.
“Council is happy to meet with these business owners to discuss their issues.”