Allconnex, Gold Coast Water Charges and Property Investors
The Queensland State Government tackled water reform in the region in response to the drought at that time to make the rapidly growing region drought resilient and generally improve the delivery of water and wastewater services.
Allconnex Water was created in July 2010 under this State Government’s South East Queensland (SEQ) Water Reform and it is owned by the Gold Coast, Logan and Redland councils.
Water and wastewater services is now billed separately to local council rates and the cost of water has shocked many. The local Gold Coast Bulletin and many local property owners have waged a war with Allconnex over what they see as a massive rise in water costs.
Water charges are very important to local property investors. The vast majority of investment property in the Coomera district are water effecient because they have been constructed in recent years and therefore the cost of water can be passed in full to the tenant.
In our expereince many local property managers are failing to recover water costs that be as high as $500 from the tenants because of a lack of training and understanding of the law.
According to the RTA Water Charges Fact Sheet the the minimum criteria for water charging are:-
Lessors are able to pass on the full water consumption costs to tenants if:
- the rental premises are individually metered (or water is delivered by vehicle), and
- the rental premises are water efficient, and
- the tenancy agreement states the tenant must pay for water consumption.
If your property manager is not recovering your water charges from your tenant call the expert team at First National Upper Coomera Real Estate to discuss your options or complete the form to request a property management proposal be rushed out to you.
Consider This :- If your property manager is not recovering your water charges from the tenant then changing to an agency who will recover the charges may be the equivalent of getting a 30% to 40% in your management fees. Can you afford not consider a change?
If you want to follow the Allconnex Saga these are links to the articles as they appeared in the Gold Coast Bulletin and goldcoast.com.au
- Sep 3, 2010: Allconnex, GCCC duck for cover
- Sep 3, 2010:Interview with Kim Wood, Allconnex CEO
- Sep 3, 2010: LNP would cap water, vows Langbroek
- Sep 11, 2010: Water windfall likely for Council
- Nov 8, 2010: Gold Coast water bills to increase
- Nov 8, 2010: Langbroek wants water price capped
- Nov 15, 2010: WUTH: Water rip-off a drop in the ocean
- Nov 28, 2010: Ratepayers face 23% water hike
- Nov 29, 2010: Councils cash in on water hike
- Jan 28, 2011: Water bills anger Coast residents
- Jan 28, 2011: Lower water prices ‘premature’: Mayor
- Jan 28, 2011: Vote them out over water: Ratepayers
- Jan 29, 2011: Ratepayers threaten to defy Allconnex
- Jan 30, 2011: Allconnex silent as ratepayers protest
- Jan 31, 2011: It’s water or the rates, says Ron Clarke
- Jan 31, 2011: Water bills leave community reeling
- Feb 1, 2011: Allconnex Water boss salary revealed
- Feb 3, 2011: UDIA boss to meet with Allconnex today
- Feb 3, 2011: UDIA meets with Allconnex over charges
- Feb 3, 2011: State MPs promise to raise water issue
- Feb 4, 2011: Water meters unread at 700 Coast homes
- Feb 5, 2011: Councillors have their say on water rates
- Feb 5, 2011: Letter asks Allconnex to justify bills
- Feb 5, 2011: Allconnex advertises several $100k jobs
- Feb 7, 2011: Shepherd calls for council water summit
- Feb 7, 2011: Call for council to control water is rejected
- Feb 7, 2011: Public meeting over water bill outrage
- Feb 8, 2011: Councillors to fight for cheaper water
- Feb 9, 2011: Coast water bills border on ‘crazy’
- Feb 10, 2011: Allconnex plans $4m office spree
- Feb 10, 2011: Public meeting on water charges
- Feb 10, 2011: Water charges meeting lures 400 residents
- Feb 11, 2011: 400 rally to protest water rates
- Feb 11, 2011: Rage at Allconnex rates intensifies
- Feb 12, 2011: Allconnex’s top-heavy structure revealed
- Feb 14, 2011: Coast pays as Moreton Bay discounts
- Feb 15, 2011: Water War: Councillors knew all along
- Feb 18, 2011: Council clams up on water profits
- Feb 19, 2011: Surf clubs reel from huge water bills
- Feb 19, 2011: Mayors picketed at water rates summit
- Feb 19, 2011: Water prices will rise next year: Clarke
- Feb 21, 2011: Knives are out for Eddy
- Feb 21, 2011: Ratepayers plan more water protests
- Feb 22, 2011: Water worries for Runaway Bay shops
- Feb 22, 2011: Councillor Sarroff apologises to Mayor
- Feb 22, 2011: No water profits under Tate
- Feb 23, 2011: Allconnex staff fear abuse
- Feb 23, 2011: Facebook water protest now real
- Feb 23, 2011: NICHOLS: Water rage is a time bomb
- Feb 23, 2011: Council keeps mum on water figures
- Feb 24, 2011: Council’s Dickson shifts water blame