Water works already budgetted, says mayor

Gosford Council's contribution to the Peninsula water quality improvement works has been anticipated in budgets for the next two years, according to Gosford mayor Cr Jim Macfadyen.

He said the Federal Government would provide a $4.5 million for the project.

His statement was in response to a Daily Telegraph article last week quoting a Woy Woy businessman as suggesting the City's rates could rise.

Cr Macfadyen moved to reassure residents that council was aware of the need to minimise any impact of its programs on rates.

He said that the rates would not be affected by the fast tracking of council's water quality management program.

"The $4.5 million in funding from the Federal Government is very welcome and will allow Council to dedicate extra resources to resolving the water quality issue and enable the earlier completion of this very important program," Cr Macfadyen said.

"Council understands that water quality on the Peninsula has been an ongoing issue for many years.

"With this additional funding support, we can now ensure that work to reduce the incidence of discoloured water and impact on residents is expedited for the benefit of the community.

"In fact, there will be hidden benefits for the whole of the Gosford community.

"Once the work is completed, crews will be able to be diverted from mains flushing to other vital maintenance tasks throughout the network.

"At the same time, we will also conserve more of our valuable natural resource as people will not be turning on their taps to flush their system.

"Not only will this save water, it will also conserve electricity together with our infrastructure, as our system pumps will not be used as frequently."

Council's water quality management program incorporates a number of activities including capital works, maintenance activities, monitoring and analysis programs, and changes to system management and operation.

It included optimising the operation of the Peninsula system, cleaning trunk and distribution mains, targeting areas for unlined fittings replacements, implementing a more extensive monitoring program, reviewing treatment processes and reducing the risk of pipe and valve failures.

Press release, 11 Oct 2007 Meagan Wilkinson, Gosford Council