South Australian water bills are set to rise within days as the premier looks to fix what he has called a “public policy disaster”.
The SA government has announced plans to invest $1.5 billion in upgrading water infrastructure across the state, saying the current state of the water system is stopping housing developments from proceeding.
The decision, effective from July, will result in a 3.5 per cent increase above inflation, adding approximately $20 to quarterly water bills.
“Having this imposition on hard working people and families on a cost is not ideal but what choice do we have?” Premier Peter Malinauskas said.
“It has actually accumulated into a situation that you could safely characterise as a public policy disaster.”
The funds will be allocated to improve water supply and sewerage systems, with the costs spread across water bill payers, developers, and state debt.
Adelaide resident Jason Brinkworth, who has just become a father and bought a new home in Richmond, said the increase to bills would be “a bit of a kick in the guts”.
“There’s a lot of bills, nothing seems to be coming down. Everything seems to be going up except for most people’s wages,” he said.
Opposition Spokeswoman Michelle Lensink: “I don’t think any South Australian household is going to be thanking Peter Malinauskas for increasing their water bills.”
Liam Golding from the Urban Development Institute of Australia cautioned that the increased costs could be reflected in the cost of housing, which he described as “less than ideal.”