By Jessica Micallef
Water supplies to Melbourne’s booming outer-west will be expanded and prices could be cut over the next decade following the announced merger of the west’s two water providers.
Western Water, which provides drinking water and sewerage services to more than 160,000 residents and 3000 businesses in the northwest, will merge with City West Water next year in a bid to reduce costs and expand services to one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.
The new entity, known as Greater Western Water, will come into effect from July 1, 2021.
Water Minister Lisa Neville said without the merger the amount of infrastructure needed to meet the booming population growth would drive up annual bills by up to $500 over the next 10 years.
She said the changes will now mean annual bills will be on average $160 cheaper by the end of the decade than they are today.
“The integration of Western Water and City West Water will mean lower bills for customers well into the future and better services and water security for the region,” she said.
“We will protect existing jobs at both water corporations and continue to promote growth for the local economy, to ensure these reforms provide a sustainable future for the region.”
All existing non-executive staff will transfer to the newly integrated water entity, meaning no job losses.
Western Water and City West Water currently have about 580,000 customers combined, forecast to rise to almost 700,000 by 2028.
The Sunbury and Footscray offices and depots will be retained, an extra 50 staff will be based at Sunbury over the next three years and communities currently served by Western Water will have greater access to the Melbourne water system and water security through the desalination plant.
Funding totalling $500,000 has also been secured to revamp the current Western Water office in Sunbury and to convert the office into a COVIDSafe Greater Western Water hub.
Western Water chair Andrew Cairns said the new entity will have the financial resources and staff to cope with the expected growth and demand for new water infrastructure.
“We are prioritising the liveability and affordability needs of our customers and community to ensure they continue to receive the services they need and value at an affordable price into the future,” he said.
“It will also boost local employment opportunities and allow for an upgrade to our Sunbury office.”
