28 Mar 2024
Tasmanians invited to shape water future
TasWater is kicking off the biggest community engagement in its history, to hear about what’s important to Tasmanians when it comes to water.
Head of Communications and Engagement Callan Paske said all Tasmanians were invited to join in the conversation about shaping our water future and finding the right balance between price and service that will help the state thrive.
“Water isn’t just our thing, it’s Tasmania’s thing, and we want to make sure everyone has a say about what’s important to them and how we should be shaping the future of water in the state,” he said.
“Every four years our Price and Service plan is approved by the independent Economic Regulator, spelling out our commitment to our customers.
“This time around we want all Tasmanians to have an input into the plan, so it truly reflects the needs of our customers, communities, and the environment.
“This is the largest scale community engagement we’ve ever undertaken, and we are excited to get as many Tasmanians on board for the ride as possible.
“By understanding local experiences and expectations we will be better able to deliver a plan that meets their needs when it comes to the supply of water and sewerage services and our contribution to the Tasmanian community as a whole.”
“We have unique assets, our climate is changing, and customer expectations are growing.
“We need to prepare for tomorrow while being fair to customers today.”
Over the next six months there will be many ways that people can have their say.
Registrations are open now until the start of May, and this will be followed by three months of community and customer engagement through community pop-ups, surveys, and engagement forums.
“From July to September a representative community panel will take a deep dive into what matter most to Tasmanians based on what we’ve heard,” Callan said.
“Participants can influence things such as the method for calculating water and sewerage charges, the right levels of service, and how we prioritise our efforts.
“We know people care about these things and now is the time for them to have their say.”
TasWater has collaborated with councils, the community sector, peak bodies, and consumer advocacy groups to develop this engagement plan, ensuring it’s truly inclusive of all Tasmanians’ voices.
“It’s so important to make sure you’ve heard plenty of different voices and perspectives when developing a multi-year plan like this,” CEO of the Tasmanian Hospitality Association Steve Old said.
“All small business owners need to have a first-class service they can rely on, but like everyone else they are feeling the pinch too.
“Pubs, cafes and restaurants are also community hubs, and their owners want to know that getting a reliable service is not at the expense of the amenity of the towns they operate in, and the surrounding environment.”
CEO of the Civil Contractors Federation, Andrew Winch said his organisation had been approached early by TasWater.
“We valued the chance to join with other industry and community stakeholders in September last year to have an early say on TasWater’s plan to engage with Tasmanians in 2024,” said Andrew.
“The capital works projects that TasWater will roll out in the next price and service plan will play an important role in the continued growth of the civil construction sector which is a major employer across the state.
“CCF Tasmania is very supportive of Tasmanians having the opportunity to comment on the framework for that capital investment to make sure it delivers for customers and encourages economic growth.
“We look forward to working with TasWater over the coming years and encourage all Tasmanian to have their say.”
In March 2025 TasWater will share the full draft report and the outcomes that have informed the price submission before it is submitted to the Economic Regulator in July.
To find out more about the process and how you can get involved, visit www.taswater.com.au/yoursay complete the short registration form and then get ready to tell us what matters to you in the months ahead. If you sign up before 5 May, 2024you will go into the draw to win one of five $200 grocery vouchers.
Register Now