Queanbeyan Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy

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Consultation has concluded

We have prepared a Queanbeyan Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) Strategy which is now open for comment.

The NSW Government requires local water utilities to prepare and implement an IWCM strategy. The strategy must be evidence-based and consider the relationship between the urban water cycle (water supply, sewage, and stormwater) and community expectations. The aim of the IWCM is to ensure urban water services are appropriate, affordable, and sustainable while meeting community needs and protecting public health and the environment.

The IWCM covers the Queanbeyan water supply (from Icon Water), sewer catchment (feeding Queanbeyan STP) and stormwater catchment discharging to the Queanbeyan River and Jerrabomberra Creek. This strategy does not cover Googong, Braidwood, Bungendore or Captains Flat.

In November 2019, we completed the IWCM Issues Paper, which reviewed the pre-2020 situation for water, sewer and stormwater systems. It highlighted issues related to regulatory compliance, levels of service, and sustainability. The issues paper explained that there were several issues that needed to be addressed for the water supply and sewerage systems. For the stormwater systems there were no issues beyond normal operations that needed to be addressed.

What has caused the issues

  • Growth in demand for services

  • Poor condition of Jerrabomberra Reservoir

  • Inability of existing Queanbeyan STP to comply with license beyond 2025

  • Lack of capacity in the Jerrabomberra Trunk Sewer

  • Lack of capacity in the Morriset Trunk Sewer

In July 2021, we completed a study of the issues that are highlighted in the IWCM Issues Paper. The aim of the study was to find what options were available to address each issue, the preferred options going forward including their technical requirements, cost estimates, and timing. The study included detailed technical analysis of the water systems and found that capital works valued at $40M for water supply and $215.3M for sewerage over the next 20 years are needed to address issues, maintain levels of service, and ensure sustainability.

What does this mean

Funding for the required capital investment will require adjustments to the typical water and sewerage residential bill, commercial loans, and government grants. Funds needed for water supply works will not result in increases beyond adjustments for CPI (Consumer Price Index) of the water bill.

This is not the case for the sewerage works that are needed. We need funds over and above amounts held in the sewerage reserve to meet the cost of the new Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plan (QSTP) Project. These funds are expected to come from increases in the sewerage bill (6.5% incl CPI for the first six years and then reverting to CPI increases), loans of $40M (in total), and government grants (in addition to the $2.7M already received) of 25% of the QSTP Upgrade Project cost.

The ‘typical’ residential bill for Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra ratepayers is expected to increase over the next 20 years from the current water and sewerage bill of $2,054 to $3,587 in the 2040/41 FY. This is an average overall annual increase of about 2.98%.

Have your say

  • By completing the survey below by Friday 31 March 2023
  • By email to council@qprc.nsw.gov.au referencing "Queanbeyan IWCM report"
  • By mail to PO Box 90, Queanbeyan NSW 2620

We have prepared a Queanbeyan Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) Strategy which is now open for comment.

The NSW Government requires local water utilities to prepare and implement an IWCM strategy. The strategy must be evidence-based and consider the relationship between the urban water cycle (water supply, sewage, and stormwater) and community expectations. The aim of the IWCM is to ensure urban water services are appropriate, affordable, and sustainable while meeting community needs and protecting public health and the environment.

The IWCM covers the Queanbeyan water supply (from Icon Water), sewer catchment (feeding Queanbeyan STP) and stormwater catchment discharging to the Queanbeyan River and Jerrabomberra Creek. This strategy does not cover Googong, Braidwood, Bungendore or Captains Flat.

In November 2019, we completed the IWCM Issues Paper, which reviewed the pre-2020 situation for water, sewer and stormwater systems. It highlighted issues related to regulatory compliance, levels of service, and sustainability. The issues paper explained that there were several issues that needed to be addressed for the water supply and sewerage systems. For the stormwater systems there were no issues beyond normal operations that needed to be addressed.

What has caused the issues

  • Growth in demand for services

  • Poor condition of Jerrabomberra Reservoir

  • Inability of existing Queanbeyan STP to comply with license beyond 2025

  • Lack of capacity in the Jerrabomberra Trunk Sewer

  • Lack of capacity in the Morriset Trunk Sewer

In July 2021, we completed a study of the issues that are highlighted in the IWCM Issues Paper. The aim of the study was to find what options were available to address each issue, the preferred options going forward including their technical requirements, cost estimates, and timing. The study included detailed technical analysis of the water systems and found that capital works valued at $40M for water supply and $215.3M for sewerage over the next 20 years are needed to address issues, maintain levels of service, and ensure sustainability.

What does this mean

Funding for the required capital investment will require adjustments to the typical water and sewerage residential bill, commercial loans, and government grants. Funds needed for water supply works will not result in increases beyond adjustments for CPI (Consumer Price Index) of the water bill.

This is not the case for the sewerage works that are needed. We need funds over and above amounts held in the sewerage reserve to meet the cost of the new Queanbeyan Sewage Treatment Plan (QSTP) Project. These funds are expected to come from increases in the sewerage bill (6.5% incl CPI for the first six years and then reverting to CPI increases), loans of $40M (in total), and government grants (in addition to the $2.7M already received) of 25% of the QSTP Upgrade Project cost.

The ‘typical’ residential bill for Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra ratepayers is expected to increase over the next 20 years from the current water and sewerage bill of $2,054 to $3,587 in the 2040/41 FY. This is an average overall annual increase of about 2.98%.

Have your say

  • By completing the survey below by Friday 31 March 2023
  • By email to council@qprc.nsw.gov.au referencing "Queanbeyan IWCM report"
  • By mail to PO Box 90, Queanbeyan NSW 2620