IPART has made a 1-year determination for maximum prices that Central Coast Council can charge for water and wastewater from 1 July 2026.
Under IPART’s determination, bills for a typical household receiving water and wastewater services (using 170 kilolitres of water per year) will increase by 5.5% (or $82) to $1,565 in 2026−27 including inflation (or 1.3% plus inflation). The 1.3% increase above inflation reflects broader economic changes such as interest rates. Bill impacts will depend on household type and household water use.
Consistent with legislative changes, the 1-year determination removes the current stormwater drainage charge.
IPART Chair Carmel Donnelly said the Tribunal had planned to issue a multi-year determination but, after considering the submissions to its Draft Report, decided to set maximum prices for a single year until 30 June 2027.
“One submission raised concerns about the independence of the advice IPART received from an expert service provider about the costs the Council should incur to efficiently deliver its services” Ms Donnelly said.
“As a precaution to maintain confidence in the integrity of IPART’s decisions, the Tribunal decided not to rely further on this advice due to a commercial relationship between the provider and the Council.
“While IPART makes no suggestion that the advice we received was biased or about the conduct of the service provider or the Council, it will commission an independent assessment of the concerns about the independence of consultants involved in the pricing review.
“Making a 1-year determination allows the Council to keep pace with broader economic factors such as inflation and cost of capital, including interest rates. It also provides an interim period for IPART to seek further, separate expert advice on efficient expenditure.
“This will also enable IPART to further consider the full range of issues raised in submissions we received in response to our Draft Report” Ms Donnelly said.
“Key matters raised in submissions that we anticipate considering in detail include affordability for customers, IPART’s methodology regarding any taxation allowance and updated information in Council’s submission.”
IPART will begin its next review of maximum prices for Central Coast Council’s water and wastewater services immediately to inform a new determination to take effect from 1 July 2027.
“The review will include publication of a draft report and draft determination, a public hearing and a final report. While the Council will not need to submit a new pricing proposal, IPART will invite the Council to provide additional information to inform the review” Ms Donnelly said.
“We thank all stakeholders who provided feedback on the Draft Report, and we will consider all submissions and survey responses already received in the new review. This means that, while we will again seek and welcome feedback during that new review, anyone who has already made a submission will not need to provide it to us again.”
IPART’s Final Report is available on its website, www.ipart.nsw.gov.au
Media Contact: Mark O’Brien, 0427 105 865, media@ipart.nsw.gov.au