Customer Update - IPART 2025-2030 water price review: Have your say

4 December 2024

The above figures do not include inflation. This means that the actual cost of bills will more than triple over this period if IPART accepts the proposals in their current form.

Murray Irrigation strongly opposes these price increases, and is in the process of finalising a formal submission to voice our concerns.

Creating your own submission to IPART

You can make your own submission to IPART via the below link. Every submission from those impacted by the steep rise in charges strengthens our ability to meaningfully influence IPART's decision. We strongly encourage customers to please take the time to make a submission prior to the deadline on Monday 9 December.

If you need assistance in making a submission, please contact Customer Support on 1300 138 265.

Below are some key themes/ideas you could include in your submissions to IPART:

Highlight the impact on your farm business.

• The proposed increases are too high, it will significantly affect my businesses profitability, I do not support the proposed increases.
• The price of commodities is not increasing at the same rate as these fees. The farm sector cannot absorb these price increases.
• I have seen price increases in the industry before. I have never seen anything this high. Particularly without clear justification.

What is the justification for these price increases?

• I don’t understand what services I am paying for. Murray Irrigation provides many of the services that WaterNSW provides to river pumpers. Why am I being charged for services I don’t receive?
• WaterNSW and WAMC indicate their costs have increased. I have not experienced any change in service, so what is driving these cost increases and what is the justification?
•  Government regulation is driving cost increases and reducing the efficiency of the commercial sector. As government corporations, WaterNSW and WAMC cannot expect to pass on these unreasonable costs to water users.
• This is the first full WaterNSW Price Proposal to be undertaken using IPART’s 3Cs (customers, costs and credibility) Framework, which is centred around pricing proposals that promote customer value. Where is the customer value?

Highlight the lack of engagement by WaterNSW and WAMC

• I don’t feel I was engaged by WaterNSW or WAMC on these proposed price increases, and how it would affect my business, and further, the flow on effects to my community.
• Some of the engagement questions asked by WaterNSW did not include an option for customers to reject expenditure or price increases. We do not understand how our values and preferences have directly influenced expenditure or pricing decisions.
• I don’t feel WaterNSW engaged me. I want to have a say. We need more time to gather meaningful feedback from affected customers.

Murray Irrigation Submission

Over the past couple of months, Murray Irrigation has been gathering data, has attended more than five meetings internally and with relevant stakeholders including IPART and WaterNSW representatives, and has been conducting our own research to include in our formal submission to IPART. Our aim is to minimise any cost increases and extending the determination period so as to gain more meaningful data from customers that will be affected by the price increases. 

Murray Irrigation’s submission to IPART will be shared via Talking Water on December 10 2024 and on the Company Website here. 

If you have any questions on the above information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Customer Support on customersupport@murrayirrigation.com.au or 1300 138 265.