Water rates rise for Moreton Bay

Moreton Bay residents will be paying around $28 a year more for their water, following Unitywater’s rate increase.

The utility, which covers Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, and Noosa, says from July 1 the average combined Unitywater Bill will rise by 1.6 per cent.

Unitywater says for the average customer that equates to $0.56 a week, $7.25 a quarter or around $28 per annum.

The increase is for wastewater charges as Unitywater has matched the State Government’s freeze on bulk water prices, keeping rates at last year’s levels.

Unitywater says with 215,000 new homes due for its area in the next 20 years, it needs to invest “around $2 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure”.

This is to “connect new customers and maintain service levels for existing customers”.

Unitywater says in 2025-26 the breakdown for every $100 was: $26 State Government bulk water, $18 Councils for service delivery, $28 operating costs, $28 to “improve and expand infrastructure”.

Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy welcomed the move to freeze bulk water prices.

“This is a major win for households and small businesses, as we do our bit to ease national affordability pressures on Queenslanders because the bulk water price freeze should benefit Queenslanders, not increase margins for utilities companies,” she said.

Minister Leahy says the two-year freeze on bulk water prices will save South-East Queensland families around $130.