3,500 retirement village residents are celebrating after Central Coast Council announced it will waive over 50% of their water service charges for 2016/17.
The residents had been fighting the former Gosford Council over big increases in their water, sewerage and drainage charges in 2015/16 - in some cases reportedly up to 1000 per cent - after being under-billed for the previous three years.
These charges had been passed onto residents who then had to make up the shortfall. However, the newly formed Council has now voted to foot the bill for 53% of the water service charges this FY - an average of $142 each.
The same waiver had already been granted to villages in the former Wyong Shire, which was also amalgamated into the Central Coast Council.
Administrator Ian Reynolds said Council was working towards a fairer pricing structure and will ensure the charges "remain aligned" for the following year.
Image: Village residents from Living Choice Alloura Waters at Davistown.
Credit: Express Advocate.
