Following endorsement at the Council meeting of the 23 September, 2025 Central Coast Council is now submitting its water and sewer pricing proposal to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for the 2026–2031 period.

The proposal is designed to balance affordability for customers with the need to maintain high-quality services and invest in essential upgrades to our water and sewer network. It reflects extensive community engagement since 2023, resulting in a submission informed by customers.

Based on the proposal, a typical household bill would increase by around 8% in the first year, with yearly increases capped in line with inflation. Over this five-year period, Council will invest $577.8 million in critical upgrades, including improvements to water and sewer treatment plants in order to improve our environmental performance and respond to the needs of a growing region.  

To help mitigate the impact of the proposed price increase on customers, existing Water and Sewer Fund reserves are proposed to be utilised to fund legacy works, such as the removal of accumulated sludge. These reserves represent revenue collected from customers over previous years, and their use in this context ensures that the cost of these essential works is not passed on to customers through further price increases.

Council’s Director of Water and Sewer said the proposal was about striking the right balance.

“We’re keeping bills as affordable as possible while investing almost $578 million to make sure our water and sewer services remain safe, reliable and ready for the future,” Mr Loader said.

“We know cost of living is front of mind for many households, which is why we’re proposing to use fund reserves to help reduce the impact of these essential works.”

Customers will be kept informed throughout the process. While Council submits the proposal, it is IPART that makes the final decision on pricing. A link will be included on our Your Voice Our Coast (YVOC) page once IPART formally publish the submission, so that customers can be redirected to IPART’s website to provide feedback on the full pricing submission and access further information. This is expected to be published by IPART in mid-late October. This ongoing process is an important opportunity for local voices to be heard and considered in shaping the outcome.

Central Coast Council Mayor, Lawrie McKinna said that Council has listened closely to our residents over the past two years, and their feedback has shaped this submission.

“This proposal reflects what our community told us matters most, affordability, reliability and future-proofing our essential services,” Mayor McKinna said.

“Council is committed to keeping bills stable in real terms while continuing to invest in the upgrades our region needs. Council is proposing to use existing reserves to fund legacy works. It’s a responsible and fair approach”

“We encourage everyone to have their say when the IPART consultation opens. This is your chance to have your say and help shape the future of water and sewer services on the Central Coast.”

For more information search ‘future water and sewer service options’ at yourvoiceourcoast.com

ENDS