What a difference two years make

After two years of slowly increasing storage levels many Central Coast residents may be wondering if you can actually see the difference in the dams.

The answer is a resounding yes, and something witnessed by fifty Central Coast residents last week.

The residents joined Gosford City and Wyong Shire Councils on a tour of the water supply system, visiting Mardi treatment plant, the Wyong River pumping station and Mardi and Mangrove Creek Dams.

The pictures they took of Mangrove Creek Dam would have been very different just two years ago.

Since February 2007 total dam storage levels have increased from 12.8% to 32.4% - an increase of over 39,500 million litres.

Storage in Mangrove Creek Dam alone has increased by over 33,700 million litres or 33,700 Olympic swimming pools.

The photos below show the intake tower of Mangrove Creek Dam. The first was taken in May 2007 and the second last week.

Can you see the difference?

Mardi-Mangrove Link work continuing

Work on the Mardi-Mangrove Link Project is continuing.

The project involves building two new pump stations (one at Wyong River and one at Mardi Dam) and two new pipelines (2km from Wyong River to Mardi Dam and 19km from Mardi Dam to Mangrove Creek Dam).

Investigations and design work are continuing along the full stretch of the pipeline routes as well as for both new pump stations. These include environmental, geotechnical and other engineering assessments.

Negotiations with 60 affected landholders in Yarramalong Valley are also ongoing in relation to acquiring easements on their land where the pipelines will be laid. Negotiations also relate to the compensation being offered for these easements in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991.

The Councils remain committed to building the Mardi-Mangrove Link to help secure the region’s water supply into the future. The Federal Government also remains committed to the project with its $80.3 million funding towards the total cost. Liaison with the State Government is also on track in relation to the statutory processes which need to be followed.

Preliminary cost estimates for the Project are still being worked through and will be the subject of a report to both Councils shortly.

Clarification on pensioner rebates

Gosford City and Wyong Shire Councils provide a rebate to eligible pensioners of up to 50% of their annual water charges, to a maximum amount of $87.50 in 2008-09.

The amount of the rebate is set by the NSW Government under the Local Government Act. The Councils do not have the power to change the amount of this rebate.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) recently recommended that the NSW Government review the amount of this rebate.

The majority of eligible pensioners receive a rebate on their Water Service Charge of up to $56.08. This rebate is included on your annual Rates & Charges Notice issued in July.

The remaining rebate of up to $31.42 ($87.50 less the $56.08) is available on pensioners Water Consumption Account, and is half the amount of the consumption charge.

Depending on the amount of water used, residents may receive the full $31.42 on their first water consumption account or it may be spread over the two water consumption accounts issued during the financial year.

A further rebate of $87.50 is also avavaible on the sewerage service charge.

To be eligible for a pensioner rebate on a Rates and Water Consumption account you need to hold a current Pensioner Concession Card and own and live in the property which is billed.

Applications for pensioner rebates must be made in person at a Council Customer Service Centre.

Whizzy’s water tips

Mulch is not only for the garden beds – try mulching your pot plants and reduce water loss from evaporation

Check if your toilet is leaking by adding a few drops of food colouring to the cistern – if colour appears in the bowl (without flushing) you have a leak