Moree Plains Shire Council

Biniguy Town Water Project Consultation: Summary Report.

19 August 2018

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Table of contents

Table of contents .................................................................................................................. 2

Project overview .................................................................................................................... 3

Consultation .......................................................................................................................... 3

Objective ........................................................................................................................... 3

Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 4

Participation....................................................................................................................... 5

Consultation findings ............................................................................................................. 5

Appendix 1: Project factsheet ............................................................................................ 7

Appendix 2: Survey ........................................................................................................... 8

Appendix 3: Sorry we missed you card ............................................................................ 10

Appendix 4: Survey results .............................................................................................. 11

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Project overview

In late 2016, the Moree Plains Shire Council was awarded $11.2 million State Government funding to upgrade the town’s water supply system. The funding included:

$4.13 million to construct a drinking water supply for the village of Ashley; and

$3.96 million to construct a 11.5km water pipeline from Pallamallawa to Biniguy, and a high-standing reservoir.

These projects mean that the small villages of Biniguy and Ashley, where residents have previously had to rely on bores and rainwater, will be on scheme water for the first time.

The cost to residents for the water supply has yet to be finalised, but the current assumption is that residents of Biniguy and Ashley will be charged the same as all other water users in the Shire; that is:

$240pa (2016/17) for supply

$1.58/kL for usage up to 750kL/annum

$2.05/kL for over usage 750kL/annum

The benefits of scheme water for these two villages include:

A water supply that meets Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

Improved public health

Improved Water Security

No need to rely on bores and rainwater tanks

Fire protection availability

- Property values may increase

The consequences of not proceeding with this infrastructure project include:

Moree Plains is unlikely to receive 100% capital funding offer ever again

Public health may be compromised

Ongoing costs of maintenance of bores, pumps, pipe lines and rainwater tanks

Poor water security

No fire hyrdrants

Less chance of increase in property values

Consultation

The goal of this project was to gauge community sentiment in Biniguy in relation to connecting the village to town water.

Objective

Understand community sentiment around the issue of town water

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Strategy:

Review all past surveys and feedback received from the community and identify themes and key focus areas

Meet with key stakeholders – DFES, Shire Council staff

Undertake risk analysis

Develop a town water factsheet

Develop and circulate a property owner/residents survey

Doorknock residents in Biniguy

Hold a community information session

Methodology

Materials:

A project factsheet (Appendix 1) and survey (Appendix 2) were developed, providing information about the proposal to connect Biniguy to town water, and asking for resident feedback on the proposal.

The information in the factsheet was based on interviews and discussions with:

Biniguy residents and property owners

The Rural Fire Service

Local business

The Town Water Project Manager and Senior Communications Officer from the Shire of Moree Plains Council

Doorknock: An information pack was distributed by hand via a doorknock to 28 properties within the project area in Biniguy, and mailed to 15 properties. In total, 43 information packs were distributed. The information pack included:

Project factsheet

Survey

Reply paid envelope If residents were not home, the information pack was left in their mailbox with a ‘Sorry we missed you’ card (Appendix 3) that included the 1800 number for the project information line. Community Information ‘Drop In’ Session A two hour ‘drop in’ session was held from 5pm to 7pm at the Biniguy Rural Fire Service, on Wednesday 15 August. Plans showing the proposed route for the water pipeline were on display at the drop in session. Hard copies of the survey were available for community members to complete, if they hadn’t already done so.

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Moree Plains Shire Council’s Acting Water Manager, Roland Heatley, Technical Officer, Alex Norman, Water & Sewer Co-Ordinator, Holly Ireland, Town Water Project Manager Graham Macpherson, and Senior Communications Officer Susannah Pearse attended the information sessions, along with Mitchell Hughes from Seftons. The Pallamallawa P&C provided a free sausage sizzle and soft drinks to attendees (funded by Moree Plains Shire Council), and the Rural Fire Service provided use of the Biniguy fire shed for the event.

Participation

Surveys:

Fifteen survey responses were received, a response rate of 50% (as at 17 August).

Information session:

Approximately 20 residents attended the Information Session, with the majority remaining at the event until 7pm.

Doorknock:

Thirteen groups of residents were engaged with directly during a doorknock of Biniguy.

1800 number:

To date, no enquiries have been received via the Information Line, which can be taken as an indication that the majority of people feel their questions have been addressed via other channels.

Consultation findings

The response to the proposal to connect Biniguy to town water was overwhelmingly positive.

Doorknock:

The information pack was letterbox dropped by hand to 28 properties in Biniguy. During the doorknock 13 residents responded and engaged in discussion about the project.

A summary of the verbal feedback provided by residents during the doorknock is provided below:

Hot water systems don’t last long 12 months, washing machines also. Washing in bore water wasn’t great and stained the material. Several residents took

washing to friends and family in Pally and Moree to be washed in town water. Shower head and taps also corroded quickly. Several residents had bore pump problems and needed to be re sunk at significant

cost. Many mentioned that the running cost of a bore was high and town water wouldn’t be

any more expensive but much better. Most thought that the addition of fire hydrants in the village was a good thing for

safety. A comment that this may help improve house prices in the village

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A comment that rates had increased significantly from $200- 1000 in last decade and for what? Only rubbish service provided. They were pleased council was doing something for the village.

Only two residents spoken to did not support the project. One stated ‘I have good water tanks and a good bore I just don’t need it’ and the other was an older gentleman on Biniguy Ave who said he had managed for many years and didn’t think he needed it, but did concede it would probably be a good thing for the village.

One elderly resident had been without water for 17 weeks, as her bore pump had broken down and she was waiting for it to be fixed.

Survey results:

Fifteen surveys were completed and returned. One of these was from a member of the Rural Fire Service who is not a resident of Biniguy but is supportive of the Town Water proposal.

Of the remaining 14 surveys:

100% said they would connect to Town Water ‘immediately’ if it was available

14 currently rely on bore water

11 currently rely on rainwater tanks

11 reported there had been times when they had no access to water due to power outages

Eight reported buying bottled water to drink

Five reported buying bottled water to cook

One resident used to have evaporative air conditioning but had to remove it due to the bore water damaging the system

One resident used to have a pool but has since filled it in due to maintenance issues as a result of having to use bore water

The two main barriers to connecting to Town Water were the cost of getting a plumber to connect the property (mentioned by four respondents) and the cost of water use (mentioned by two respondents).

A detailed breakdown of the survey findings is provided at Appendix 4.

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Appendix 1: Project factsheet

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Appendix 2: Survey

CONNECTING BINIGUY TO TOWN WATER

SURVEY The NSW government has awarded $3.96 million to Moree Plains Shire Council under the Restart NSW Water Security for Regions program to connect the village to Town Water. If the project goes ahead, Biniguy residents will no longer have to rely on bores and rainwater tanks, and by the end of 2018 will have access to safe, potable water for the first time in the village’s history. The Moree Plains Shire Council is canvassing the views of property owners and residents in Biniguy about the project. Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions, and return the completed survey in the Reply Paid Envelope by 5pm, Friday 17th August. Name: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. I am (please tick all that apply):

A resident of Biniguy

The owner of a property in Biniguy

2. I currently source my water from (please tick all that apply):

On property bore

Rainwater tank

Other (please specify)

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3. Please tick any of the following statements which apply:

My garden has reticulation (a water pipe or irrigation network)

I purchase bottled water for drinking

I purchase bottled water for cooking

My property has evaporative air conditioning

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I have experienced periods where we have no access to water due to power outages (bore/rainwater pump not working)

I have a swimming pool

4. If Biniguy was connected to Town Water, I would (please select one answer only):

Connect my property to Town Water immediately

Connect my property to Town Water in the near future

Would never connect my property to Town Water

I am not sure if I would connect my property to Town Water

5. If you would never connect your property to Town Water, please let us know why (tick all that apply):

I am satisfied with my current water supply

I don’t want to pay for the private costs associated with connecting my property to the mains water supply (for example, the cost of employing a plumber to install piping to my property)

I am concerned about the cost of the water (water consumption cost)

Other (please specify) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. If you are not sure if you would connect your property to Town Water if it was available in Biniguy, what would influence your decision? (tick all that apply):

Cost of plumbing to connect the property to the supply

Water usage charges (consumption cost)

Other (please specify) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Do you have any other comments you would like to make about the proposal to

connect Biniguy to Town Water? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you.

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Appendix 3: Sorry we missed you card

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Appendix 4: Survey results

See separate attachment.

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