SEPTEMBER 2018

Receive up to $750 of Plumbing Works for FREE* You may be eligible for the Victorian Government’s Community Rebate Program. • Do you have a Concession Card? • Are you on a payment plan? • Do you have high water usage? Eligible customers will receive a free water efficiency audit from a licensed plumber, contracted by South Water, to New Water Supplies – New Water assist in reducing their water use. Eligible customers may then receive assistance of Treatment Processes & Fluoride up to $750 from the program for approved products or services. The Lance Creek Water Connection will link Supply System provides * The program does not provide subsidies for , , Loch and Poowong to Water flexibility with regards to water supplies bills, but assists customers on a concession or ’s water grid, providing a higher level of and strategically utilising water from the state payment arrangement to reduce water use water security and water quality for customers. water grid. and utility costs. If this is of interest, we invite you to contact The region’s most significant water security Fluoride for Korumburra, us on 1300 851 636 to determine if you are project is on schedule, with final components Poowong, Loch & Nyora eligible for an initial water audit. of construction nearing completion and the project on track for water to start flowing Once the new Lance Creek Water Connection is to Korumburra in the coming months. As a activated, customers in Korumburra, Poowong, result, South Gippsland Water is preparing Loch and Nyora will start to receive a fluoridated for changes in water sources, supply and water supply. The Lance Creek Water Supply Difficulty treatment processes for Korumburra, Poowong, System has been fluoridated since 2012 and Loch & Nyora. connecting new towns to this system means Paying This project will see South Gippsland Water that more customers will now receive the health commission and start to use water from the benefits of fluoridated water. Your state water grid. South Gippsland Water Customers who wish to find out more about has access to the Water Supply water fluoridation are encouraged to call the System via a pipeline linking to the Account? Department of Health and Human Services Cardinia Reservoir. The two way pipeline can South Gippsland Water bills 3 times per year be used regardless of whether the Victorian Water Fluoridation hotline 1800 651 723 or and recognises that sometimes customers Desalination Plant is operational, so South visit the health website: https://www2.health.vic. may be having difficulty paying their water Gippsland Water is always assured access to gov.au/public-health/water/water-fluoridation or sewerage account. Difficulties may come water which may be from Cardinia Reservoir about due to an unexpected expense or or the Victorian Desalination Plant. Disinfection of Water – change in financial circumstance. Chloramination Changing Water Sources & A telephone call is all it takes to discuss your The Lance Creek Water Treatment Plant uses options. Payment assistance can be provided Securing Supply for the Future a disinfection process called Chloramination. through: South Gippsland Water has access to a Bulk A combination of both chlorine and ammonia • Regular repayment plans Entitlement of 1GL (1,000 ML) of water from gas disinfects the water. Whilst this disinfection • Concession Card holder discounts the Melbourne Supply System. Customers process makes the water safe to drink, it is not • An individual payment plan connected to South Gippsland Water’s Lance compatible with fish tanks. Speak to your • Centrepay payment plan Creek Water Supply System may receive water aquarium supplier about neutralising water • Payment extensions from a number of different sources: before use in fish tanks and aquariums. • Lance Creek Reservoir South Gippsland Water is a scheme The change-over to new water supplies should • Melbourne Supply System (Cardinia participant with the Energy & Water cause no service disruptions, however, customers Reservoir or Desalinated Water) Ombudsman Victoria which offers customers who have queries or concerns regarding their Or a combination of the above. a dispute resolution service. They can be water supply are encouraged to contact South contacted on 1800 500 509. The range of options for the Lance Creek Water Gippsland Water on 1300 851 636. Delivering on your feedback, we will:

Water Environment Planning “Provide safe, clean “Be environmentally “Partner with community, drinking water for the responsible, sustainable local government and benefit of our customers and adapt to a future business to plan for future Committed to and communities” impacted by climate years” variability” Customers - • 100% compliance with the • We will always have a long Australian Drinking Water • Our carbon emissions will term water security strategy Holding Prices Guidelines (the health/safety reduce by 15% by 2025 in place that is regularly standards for drinking water) updated, in consultation • We will have programs with key stakeholders Steady • 73% or more of customers in place to assist our will choose to drink our tap customers to save water • The Corporation will From 1 July 2018 a new pricing water participate with local period commenced in which South organisations to plan for Gippsland Water has committed to future growth holding prices steady whilst focusing on delivering on the feedback we’ve received from our customers. Over the next 2 years South Gippsland Water’s prices will only rise by inflation Wastewater Reliability and no more. For 2018/19 this “Provide a safe “We will be reliable, equates to a 1.9% increase or around Customer/Integrity $18 for the year. As a result, the wastewater service minimise unplanned average residential water customer in that contributes to the interruptions to “Treat all customers/ South Gippsland will continue to pay health and livability of services and commit to community with honesty, some of the lowest rates in the country respect & strive to for water and sewerage services. For our communities and communicating well with an owner occupier receiving water environment” our customers” balance affordability, and sewerage services and using an value for money and average of 118kL of water per year, • We will achieve 100% • On average our customers fairness” their annual bill will be $996. This is Environment Protection will not be without water on par or lower than most Melbourne Authority (EPA) Licence or wastewater services for • Our customers will be customers and between $89 and $800 compliance to ensure; longer than 120 minutes satisfied - Customer less than water bills received in major - No adverse impact to • 100% of sewer spills to be satisfaction will be capital cities and territories across the receiving waters (rivers contained within 5 hours maintained at 80% or country. or oceans) • 100% of planned and more - No adverse impact unplanned water interruptions During the price review process, • 73% or more of customers to land from recycled to be restored within 5 hours South Gippsland Water worked will rate our services as water use with customers to identify what • We will communicate ‘value for money’ mattered most and have developed - No adverse odours planned interruptions via • We commit to undertaking beyond wastewater a card drop and the South six statements that define what a thorough pricing review treatment plant Gippsland Water website in customers want and how we should process with the Essential boundaries (stretch advance of works deliver our services. Services Commission target)

ACCOUNTS There are many ways to receive your account, pay your 14-18 Pioneer Street, Foster bill and track your account information – it’s all about PO Box 102, Foster VIC 3960 convenience, security and choice. ☎ 1300 851 636 There are 2 new ways to do this at South Gippsland Water: e [email protected] eNotices service – sign up at www.sgwater.enotices. South Gippsland Water 1 com.au to receive your account by email. @SthGippsWater BPAY View – an easy way to view, pay and 2 store your bills and statements electronically. 24 Hour Emergencies & Faults: 5682 0444 www.sgwater.com.au Find more details enclosed here along with your account