Non residential water and wastewater pricing change

The Gold Coast City Council 2008/09 budget was announced on Thursday 19 June 2008. As a result, there are a number of changes to water and wastewater prices for non-residential Gold Coast Water customers.

Non-residential water and wastewater pricing involves four separate charges.

• Water service charge - $135.50* per half year
  For ongoing connection to the City's water distribution system.


• Water consumption charge - $1.87 per kilolitre (kL)
  For each kilolitre (1000 litres) used, as measured by your water meter. The water consumption charge now includes the cost of purchasing water from the new State Government Water Grid Manager ($0.30/kL).


• Wastewater service charge - $260.00 per half year
  For ongoing connection to the City's wastewater distribution system.


• Wastewater volume charge - $3.20 per kilolitre (kL)
  For each kilolitre of wastewater released into the wastewater system less the half-yearly discharge allowance of 92.5 kL.

* The current minimum water service fee is $135.50 per half year, based on a 20mm diameter water meter connection. For meters 25mm and above, there is a tiered charge based on the size of the meter and the consumption for the previous year.  See the table of water service charges for details.

For more information please contact the Gold Coast Water Customer Contact Centre on 1300 366 692 or visit www.goldocoastwater.com.au.

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Hurry! Get your BWEP invoices in for payment or risk losing your eligible funds!

Congratulations to all Gold Coast businesses who have implemented water saving projects at their place of business and have been financially rewarded for their efforts through the Business Water Efficiency Program (BWEP). A big thank you to all who completed their projects on time and submitted all relevant paperwork, your efficiency is appreciated! Unfortunately there are still many businesses who have completed all work but are yet to send in the appropriate invoices. Unless a prior arranged extension has been granted all final invoices must be received by 31 July 2008. Failure to do so may result in your eligible funds being withdrawn. Please forward all invoices to Carley Smith, Gold Coast Water, PO BOX 5042, GCMC Q 9729 or email csmith@goldcoastwater.com.au. Please allow 30 days for payment from SEQ Water.

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Level 6 water restriction audit and inspection program

As part of the non-residential high volume users compliance program, the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) has requested that Water Service Providers (WSP) undertake customer audits and premises inspections to ensure compliance with approved Water Efficiency Management Plans (WEMP).

Gold Coast Water (GCW) commenced auditing of approved businesses in March 2008 and have since completed close to 200 inspections. The audits are undertaken by authorised Gold Coast City Council Officers and include the inspection of various water fittings such as taps, showers, urinals and water intensive facilities/processes as identified in the approved WEMP for compliance.

Audits that have been completed by GCW have revealed a high level of compliance from businesses across the Gold Coast. We would like to thank these businesses for their time and effort in conserving the regions water supplies.

GCW would like to remind businesses that have not yet been audited, to ensure that they can demonstrate that all water is used on the premises in accordance with their approved WEMP. Failure do so may result in a penalty infringement under the Water Act 2000 Section S360ZE(4) Contravention of a Commission Water Restriction.

GCW will continue to conduct audits through to 30th September 2008 pending review by the QWC.

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Level 6 water restriction quarterly reporting requirements - Reminder to businesses

Under Level 6 water restrictions Non-Residential High Volume Water Users Program, a number of quarterly reports must be submitted to Gold Coast Water. The last round of reporting was due by the 7th July 2008.

For all premises with an annual water consumption greater than 10 ML the Quarterly Report is:

• based on water meter and sub meter data collected on a minimum of a weekly basis.
• to include the progress in implementing water saving project(s) identified in the WEMP Action Plan.
• to be provided to Gold Coast Water within 5 business days of the end of each three month period.
• required to be submitted in the form of the WG-15 Customer Quarterly Report Template.

For all premises operating an evaporative cooling tower the quarterly report is:

• based on sub meter and conductivity data collected on a minimum of a weekly basis.
• to be provided to Gold Coast Water within 5 business days of the end of each three month period.
• required to be submitted in the form of the WG-13 Cooling Tower Quarterly Report Template.
• Cooling Towers with an annual water consumption greater than 10 ML will also be required to submit the Customer Quarterly Report Template (WG-15) in addition to WG-13.

For further information regarding quarterly and annual reporting requirements, please contact Gold Coast Water's Customer Contact Centre on 1300 366 692 or visit the Queensland Water Commission website www.qwc.qld.gov.au.

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A Watersaver’s Paradise

Paradise Resort Gold Coast has just proved it’s not only heaven for kids but also heaven for the water conscious. Thanks to the WEMP and BWEP process and guided by Commerce Queensland’s Business Eco-Efficiency unit, water use on the premises for the past two quarters is 37% less than for the same period in 2004/05. This represents a saving of 18 Megalitres over six months or enough water for 175 families of four people at current consumption targets.

This dramatic reduction in water use was brought about by firstly understanding where and how the water was being used and then attacking the areas identified as inefficient. For Paradise Resort, the guestroom showers and the cooling towers were identified as two such areas. Among other measures, flow restrictors were fitted to all showers and cycles of concentration in the cooling towers were increased from 5 to 7.5. With rising water prices the paybacks on many water projects have shortened.

BWEP funding was received to subsidise half of the cost of Commerce Queensland preparing the WEMP. The process has set in place a culture of regular monitoring and measurement of all inputs to the business and it is hoped that there will be further savings in the areas of energy and waste. For more information on this project contact Aidan Kennedy Gold Coast Manger of Business Eco-Efficiency for Commerce Queensland on (07) 5538 2133.

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The 2008 awards are open for business

Nomination and entries are now open for the 2008 Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards following a high profile launch in the Penthouse suite of Conrad Jupiter’s.

Every month from May to October the awards acknowledge winners in each of the 9 categories. All the monthly winners become finalists for the Major Awards, which are presented at a Black Tie Gala at Conrad Jupiter’s in November.

The award categories are: Family Business, Manufacturing and Construction, Mayor’s Innovation GC, Retail, Wholesale and Distribution, Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, Trades, Professions and Services, Information and Multimedia, Emerging Business and now, Environmental Management.

This year, the Awards committee are very excited to announce the new monthly category to reward and promote environmental responsibility.

The Environmental Management Award, sponsored by Gold Coast City Council’s 2020 Vision on Waste Strategic Plan, is open to business across all sectors who have implemented good environmental practices, not just those in the environmental industry.

Among the excitement, the Mayor also made a special announcement launching a new annual award, the Mayors Corporate Social Responsibility Award.

Community groups are being encouraged to nominate local businesses that demonstrate corporate social responsibility in their day to day operations.

Mayor Clarke said: “We will be looking at the every day practices of businesses in assisting socially disadvantaged citizens and groups within the community, particularly their mentoring assistance and provision of staff time.”

For further information or to enter the 2008 Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards, simply visit www.goldcoastbusinessawards.com.au or contact Lisa Maddison on 1300 887 206.

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The 2008 Careers Expo

Information on water related jobs and resource management was promoted by Gold Coast Water at the Annual Gold Coast Careers Expo on 27 and 28 July at Carrara Indoor Stadium.

The annual community-based event attracted more than 100 local and interstate education and training providers, employers and employment agencies.

It is a proven popular expo with students seeking future careers and people wanting to change career direction or learn about key industry sectors on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Water promoted the uptake of studies in water resource management and other fields relevant to the water industry. Information on the final undergraduate half-scholarship that is up for grabs was also available. This scholarship is for students applying to Griffith University to undertake a combined Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Information Technology in 2009.

Now in its 24th year, the event has firmly established its reputation as one of the most comprehensive events of its kind in Queensland, with the latest information available from our region's private providers.

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Complimentary Watersaver materials

Encourage your staff and visitors to be water conscience at your place of business. Gold Coast Water has complimentary bathroom stickers and tent cards that have been tested in a number of marinas, shopping centres and hotels on the Gold Coast, proving to be beneficial in reminding staff & visitors to be water efficient in the bathroom.

These stickers and tent cards also subconsciously reinforce the water conservation message, leading to water efficient behaviour in other areas.

For maximum exposure we recommend you position a sticker above the basin area and on the cistern of each toilet. Please be advised these are non-marking stickers and are therefore suitable to be placed on mirrors.

To place your order simply email watersaver@goldcoastwater.com.au and leave your business name, postal address and the number of stickers you require.

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© 2008 Gold Coast City Council