Water meter readings
Waste Management Facility charge
Waste levy payment
Other charges
Constant flow scheme advice

Service charges

Water meter readings

Water meter readings in the Gladstone Regional Council area occur twice a year:

• in June/July and
• November/December.

Council staff undertaking water meter readings will be dressed in GRC-branded clothing and carry an authorised officer card featuring photographic identification.

Residents are requested to assist the meter readers by keeping any unrestrained dogs under control and gates closed. Please ensure that water meters are accessible and not covered with building materials, topsoil, vehicles, etc. If you cannot locate your meter, phone Council on (07) 4970 0700.

Monitor your water usage by regularly taking readings.

See also Advanced Water Meters

Waste Management Facility charge

A Waste Management Facility Charge will be levied equally on all land within the Gladstone Region. Recognising that all ratepayers utilise local Waste Management Facilities, Council has introduced a separate Waste Management Facility Charge of $55.60 per property.

Waste levy payment

As a landfill operator, Council pays a waste levy to the Queensland government based on the amount of waste disposed to landfill. The waste levy aims to make waste processing more sustainable and thereby reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. The levy will not affect the cost of residents putting out their kerbside wheelie-bins. The Queensland government is providing quarterly advance payments to Council to mitigate any direct impacts of the waste levy on households. The total amount that will be paid to Council by the Queensland Government for this purpose for the 2023/24 financial year is $1,775,488.00. Find out more online. 

Other charges

State Emergency Management Levy

Council levies and collects the State Emergency Management Levy on behalf of the State Government for the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. 

In previous years, this levy has been known as the Annual State EMFR Levy, State Government Fire Levy or Urban Fire Levy.

The Urban Fire Levy Scheme was introduced in 1984 to partially fund the Queensland Fire Service. Since then the Fire Service and the Levy have both evolved.

Today we have the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), one organisation with many services, working with their partners in the community to plan for and mitigate the full range of natural and other hazards faced. QFES delivers its emergency management services through the Fire and Rescue Service, Rural Fire Service Queensland and the State Emergency Service and the Emergency Management Levy remains its primary source of funding.

The Levy is established in the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1990 (the Act) which applies a levy on properties within levy districts. The Act places a legal obligation on local governments to administer the levy, which is collected through local government rate notices.

The Levy is applied to all Queensland property to ensure there is a sustainable funding base for the fire and emergency services and recognises that all Queenslanders are at risk from a wide range of emergencies including floods, cyclones, storms as well as fire and accidents.

To discuss how Council has determined the State Emergency Management Levy classification on your assessment please contact the Revenue Services team on (07) 4970 0700.

For further information regarding this levy please visit the QFES website or call 13 74 68. A discount does not apply to the State Emergency Management Levy.

Constant flow scheme advice

Constant flow schemes are water supply schemes specifically designed for acreage type developments to deliver a limited quantity of water on a continuous basis.

To fully utilise the supply, it is necessary to provide sufficient on-site storage to collect and store all water not immediately consumed. Storage facilities, particularly those used for domestic consumption, should be fully enclosed. Open structures, like dams, should be avoided since most of the water would be lost through evaporation and seepage. Where elevated storage cannot be provided on-site, a small pressure system may be required to ensure that adequate flow and pressure is achieved.

Constant flow schemes are not designed to cater for fire fighting flows. Property owners are required to make their own arrangements in this regard.

A range of connection sizes are available to cater for different usage patterns. Table 1 indicates the standard connection sizes available, together with daily and annual quantities. Annual water charges for the different flow rates are detailed in Council’s Rates and Charges Booklet.

Table 1

(the standard urban allocation in the Region is 368 KL/annum)

Flow is controlled by means of a special restrictor valve which is designed to deliver a uniform flow rate, irrespective of pressure (within the limits set by the manufacturer). Council will guarantee the instantaneous flow rates stated in Table 1, to within +/- 10%, provided no part of the delivery system (or storage tank) exceeds the following maximum service levels:

• All properties between Mount Elizabeth and the intersection of Weeroona Road/Dawson Highway – RL80m (AHD)
• All properties in Chamberlain Road and along the Dawson Highway to Clyde Creek – RL 60m (AHD)
• All properties north of Clyde Creek including Wyndham, Schultz, Jefferis & Siding Roads – RL 50m (AHD)

Service connections located above these elevations are likely to suffer severe reductions in flow, particularly as more and more properties are connected to the scheme. Consequently, Council will take no responsibility for any reduction in flow rate, where the storage facility, or any inlet pipework, is above these elevations.

Whilst Council may be able to assist to some extent in relation to contour levels, it is the property owners’ responsibility to determine and ensure that they do not exceed these maximum service levels.

Limit of Council responsibilities

As with urban schemes Council is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the system up to and including the service connection assembly, which is normally located just inside the property boundary. All pipework, fittings, tanks, pressure systems, etc installed beyond this point are the responsibility of the property owner.

Water meters are not installed since the flow control valve will normally guarantee a constant flow rate. Periodic testing however is carried out by Council officers at the connection point to ensure that each service receives its flow, consequently the size of the valve may be adjusted at Council’s discretion, to ensure that this is achieved.

With the exception of the stopcock, which may be turned on or off as required, it is an offence to interfere in any way with any other fittings or pipework installed at the connection point.

Responsibilities of property owner

All property owners are required to provide and maintain their own on-site storage facilities and all pipework between the connection point and storage tank. Property owners are also responsible for the provision and maintenance of any internal pressure system and the protection of the connection point itself.

All storage tanks connected to the reticulated water supply must be provided with an air gap on the storage inlet (ie: there must be a gap between the top water level and the inlet pipe). The installation of a float control valve on the tank inlet would normally ensure that an air gap is provided.

The delivery line between the connection point and the storage tank should be direct so as to avoid any possibility of backflow. Where in Council’s opinion, such a possibility exists, a backflow prevention device may be fitted to the connection point, at the property owners’ expense. Under no circumstances shall any internal pressure system be connected to the delivery line between the connection point and the storage facility inlet.

Changing connection size

Upon application, connection sizes may be changed to any of the sizes in Table 1. Any request to change the connection size must be in writing and accompanied by the prescribed service alteration fee.

Useful hints for new participants

The size of the on-site storage facility will depend on personal usage patterns, however a capacity in the order of 45,000 litres (10,000 gallons) would normally be adequate.

Should any storage facilities exist and be less than 45,000 litres, it is suggested that such facilities be retained and upgraded only if they are not sufficient to cater for peak demands (ie: if the tank regularly runs dry or nearly dry).

The temptation to increase the connection size to solve peak demand problems should be resisted if the storage volume is inadequate. Unless there is a constant demand at this higher flow, the larger size will only result in increased overflowing or bypassing and may necessitate the periodic isolation of the system. In any event, it will cost more whether the water is used or not.

Similarly, if peak demands have little effect on the total storage and the tank is frequently running over or bypassing, it is likely that the connection size is too large. Savings on water charges may be achieved by reducing the size of the connection.

Where personal usage patterns are unknown, it is suggested that a service size of 0.7 or 1.0 litres/minute be initially installed and monitored for a period of at least 6 months. If more or less water is required, the size can be changed at any time.

The service line between the connection point and the storage tanks should be equivalent to class 12 polyethylene, as quite high pressures may be experienced if the line is isolated. The size of the service is up to the individual property owner, however, 25mm or 32mm O.D. lines are quite common and normally quite adequate for this type of scheme.

Where possible, Council officers will liaise with property owners and attempt to provide water connections at nominated locations. As a general rule, where properties are large (eg greater than 5 Ha) and where the main is on the same side of the road as the property, Council will install the service at any (reasonable) nominated point.

Where the main is on the opposite side of the road it may be necessary to cross the road at one of the side boundaries. In any event, property owners are encouraged to sketch the desired location of their service connection point on the back of the water application form to permit a preliminary inspection.

Scheme charges for new participants

The following charges apply to all new participants within the defined scheme area:

1. Scheme headworks charge
2. Water connection ‘at actual cost’ (minimum fee applies)
3. Annual water charge (depending on size of the service installed).

Details on the defined scheme area and the above charges are available on request.

See also...

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