1.2 SEWERAGE Financial sustainability in focus
Council provide a sewerage ( wastewater ) service to 4,018 properties in 6 communities , with infrastructure assets valued at $ 50.16 million as at 30 June 2020 .
The key challenges in managing this significant infrastructure asset and essential service are :
• Although the infrastructure as a whole has a long life it has been constructed and added to each financial year over many decades , with a large percentage of the networks constructed in the 1960 ’ s . Therefore at any point in time the infrastructure component parts are at different stages of their useful lives .
• The estimated life for various components of the infrastructure assets have widely varying estimated useful lives ranging from 6 years to 210 years .
• The condition of infrastructure assets at any point in time can vary – for example , it can be dependant on construction materials which perform differently over time .
• As the infrastructure ages there are more faults or failures ( requiring more maintenance to keep operational ), therefore it is important that the infrastructure is renewed ( replaced ) in a timely manner to minimise the risk of further service interruptions .
• The sewers are often very deep and in the back of properties or close to buildings in the Central Business District ( CBD ). To replace them is very expensive and disruptive . It is therefore far better to renew the sewers through relining prior to them failing completely .
• Although the age of sewers is a good indicator of condition , Closed Circuit Television ( CCTV ) is undertaken of the sewers to accurately determine their condition . The renewals can then be prioritised based on accurate condition assessment with the sewers servicing the CBD and critical services ( such as schools or hospitals ) given a higher priority .
• Given the large geographic area for the Maranoa region , and number of rural properties , not all ratepayers are connected to the town sewerage network ( i . e . the number of consumers is smaller than the total number of ratepayers ). There are fewer therefore to fund any investment in the network .
Our key priorities
• The Maranoa region provides a sewerage service to 4 small communities separated by long distances in addition to Roma and Mitchell . Therefore there aren ’ t always sufficient consumers to ensure that the service can be provided without subsidisation between communities .
Unlike large urban areas with many consumers , providing this essential service in regional , rural communities is costly on a per capita basis . With limited revenue available , Council by necessity needs to ensure that the limited dollars available are invested wisely .
Planning for long term infrastructure is therefore done over a longer term including : - asset management plan ( 10 years ); - long term financial forecast ( 10 years );
Looking forward
We plan for the future using the following principles :
• Priority for use of any available sewerage revenue ( after operating costs ) is on looking after what we ’ ve got first - i . e . renewing / replacing existing infrastructure when needed .
• When infrastructure is renewed , the capacity of the mains ( relined ) will be decreased slightly but should not cause problems in the short to medium term .
• When long term planning is undertaken , projects will be considered that reduce identified operational risks over the current and longer term ( for new or upgrade works ). This will be incorporated in Council ’ s : - asset management plan ( 10 years ); - long term financial forecast ( 10 years );
• Where possible , renewal works will be funded through sewerage charges , and new or upgrade works will be funded from external funding ( e . g . infrastructure charges ).
28 Our plans for 2021 / 22