Water Metering Project
Cradle Mountain Water has commenced its Water Metering Project which will see a $13 million investment in water infrastructure for the North West region over the next 6 years.
The project is set to be completed on a staged basis, with the first stage involving the installation of approximately 15,000 meters across the region - 6000 new meters in unmetered areas and 9000 upgrades and replacement meters which will now comply with new technology.
Currently unmetered areas set to receive meters over the next 18 months include:
- Tullah
- Rosebery
- Zeehan
- Strahan
- Queenstown
- Small pockets in Burnie & Devonport
Meters only have a life of approximately 15 years and there are still meters currently in use that measure in gallons. This project allows Cradle Mountain Water to ensure consistency with all meters used across the region.
Water meters are essential tools for measuring water use. However, their value goes far beyond their simple purpose of measuring water. Water meters will underpin fair pricing for everyone, help property owners detect water leaks and provide invaluable data that allows the Corporation to better plan, predict demand and potentially postpone or delay expensive upgrades to treatment plants and pipelines. This allows CMW to concentrate on investing to bring our water and sewerage infrastructure up to standard.
Cradle Mountain Water is currently developing a plan to reform water pricing to ensure consistency throughout this region, and the Water Metering Project plays a pivotal role in this plan's development. Under the new pricing plan everyone's water will be calculated in the same way - a fixed service charge to cover the cost of infrastructure including dams, reservoirs and pipes, and a separate water usage fee for the water that is consumed on each property, covering water extraction, pumping and treatment costs.
Throughout the Water Metering Project, property owners and residents will be kept up to date on the project's progress. One month prior to installation residents in unmetered areas will receive advice in writing of expected installation timeframes. Customers who require replacement meters will be advised one week prior to installation.
Cradle Mountain Water will receive $2.5million of the overall statewide $10million funding from the Australian Government's National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns Program to assist with the delivery of this project.
For more information about the Water Metering Project please contact 13MYWATER (13 6992).
Why Meters Count Fact Sheet
Project Update - September 2011