Fees & Charges

All service costs are listed in our annual Schedule of Fees and Charges 2024/25.

Or read our Rural Fees and Charges for 2024/25 here.

Don't have time to read all the details? Read a summary of our new fees and charges here. 

Determining what you pay for your water and sewerage services requires careful planning.

Our five-year Price Submission 2023-2028 explains our charges, service levels and works programs. Our customers helped to shape our plans and prices for the current five year period through an 18-month community engagement program.

Our Price Submission was then reviewed and approved by the Essential Services Commission, the independent Victorian water sector regulator.

As a 100% customer-funded business, it's an important process to get right. It ensures our customers are actively involved in shaping our plans for the future, and that our service standards and proposed prices are fair for everyone.

Learn more about the extensive PS23 process and read our submission at Connect Coliban.
 

Most water and sewer prices will increase by 6.2% this year. This figure consists of a price adjustment of 2.5% endorsed by the Essential Services Commission, plus inflation. 

For the average owner-occupier, bills will increase by approximately $1.74 per week (including inflation) to $1,562.15 per year. This time last year, the average owner-occupier household received a bill increase of approximately $2.11 per week. 

The average bill for a renter will increase by approximately 56 cents per week to $498.18 per year, as renters only pay for usage, not water or sewer access charges.

Prices will increase in a phased approach between now and 2028, to ensure the ongoing delivery of our core business.

Why is my bill increasing?

Our core business is to provide safe drinking water, recycled water, rural water and sewage services for public health and the environment, so that our communities can sustain themselves. 

Our prices have been steady or declining over recent years, and as we enter the second year of our current pricing period, significant intergenerational investment is required to prepare now for our changing future – particularly our growing population and the impacts of climate change.

Our region remains at a critical point in its water supply and demand. 

We continue to navigate a rapidly changing environment, whilst planning for the future. A continued modest increase to our fees and charges for the 2024/25 financial year will help us meet these challenges.

We have a range of tools and examples to help you understand your bills here.

As a 100% customer-funded organisation, it’s important that our customers understand how we are putting their bills to work. 

Of every $100, about $45 is spent on water and sewer services – this relates to the 19 water treatment and 16 water reclamation plants that we operate. These deliver top-quality drinking water and ensure that recycled water and trade waste is made safe for reuse on parks and gardens, to provide flows to inland rivers, and as biosolids in farming, in accordance with our EPA Licence. 

We have started our largest ever capital works program, which consists of time-critical infrastructure upgrades and renewals to underpin our region’s prosperity and help us address the challenges we face.

Almost $30 is spent on maintaining our ‘hidden network’ of water and sewer mains, whilst the remainder is split between environmental protection, maintenance of our three major reservoirs near Kyneton, customer service functions and corporate costs associated with running an office.

Visit here for a visual representation of what your bill pays for. 

Please phone our Customer Support Team during business hours on 1300 363 200. 

We have heard from customers that protecting the most vulnerable members of our community is important, in an environment of high interest rates, high inflation and a high cost of living. 

Our Coliban Assist program is the cornerstone of our customer support function.

From 1 July, and each year thereafter of the current pricing period, we will provide $570,000 to fund Coliban Assist.

Our Customer Support Team is trained to provide confidential advice, support or referral to other services.

If you are experiencing short or long-term payment concerns, or family violence, we encourage you to speak with our team to discuss your options. Contact us here. 

The Department of Health and other agencies offer a variety of concessions and benefits to eligible cardholders to assist low-income Victorians with water and sewerage bills. 

Customers with an eligible card can apply for a concession by completing our Apply for a Concession online form or by contacting us directly for assistance.

For more information visit our Coliban Assist page.
 

What allows Coliban Water to change customer prices?

Every five years, the Victorian water industry regulator, the Essential Services Commission (ESC), reviews fees and charges for Coliban Water to ensure pricing, service levels and work programs are justified, and costs and charges are fair. 

This year, 2024, we enter the second year of our approved pricing pathway, which runs until 2028. The prices that will apply from 1 July 2024 have been endorsed by the ESC.

The new Schedule of Fees and Charges is available here. 

Customers can also find a residential pricing estimator via the link above, or can phone our Customer Support Team on 1300 363 200.

Have fees and charges changed in 2024/25?

Yes. Most water and sewer prices will increase by 6.2% this year. This figure consists of a price adjustment of 2.5% endorsed by the Essential Services Commission, plus inflation. 

For the average owner-occupier, bills will increase by approximately $1.74 per week (including inflation) to $1,562.15 per year. This time last year, the average owner-occupier household received a bill increase of approximately $2.11 per week. 

Prices will increase in a phased approach between now and 2028, to ensure the ongoing delivery of our core business. By this, we mean: providing safe drinking water, recycled water, rural water and sewage services for public health and the environment, so that our communities can sustain themselves. 

Is there a change to pricing for renters?     

Yes. The average bill for a renter will increase by approximately 56 cents per week to $498.18 per year, as renters only pay for usage, not water or sewer access charges.

What if I am having difficulty paying my account?
    
We are focused on protecting the most vulnerable members of our community. That’s why we’ve allocated $570,000 per year to support our Coliban Assist program.

We offer a range of support measures for our customers, in an environment of continued high interest rates, high inflation and a high cost of living, 

Those experiencing short or long-term payment concerns, or family violence, are encouraged to speak with our Customer Support Team on 1300 363 200, during business hours. Our team will chat to you about your options and are trained to provide confidential advice, support or referral to other services.

The Department of Health and other agencies offer a variety of concessions and benefits to eligible cardholders to assist low-income Victorians with water and sewerage bills.

What is Coliban Assist?

Our Coliban Assist program is the cornerstone of our customer support focus and aims to ensure any customers experiencing vulnerability will be supported. 

Coliban Assist encompasses a range of support measures which includes Plumber Assist, leak detection, utility relief grants, concessions, bill smoothing and payment matching. This program allows us to help customers within our community.  

Are customers with a concession card eligible for a discount?

The Department of Health and other agencies offer a variety of concessions and benefits to eligible cardholders. These can assist customers on low incomes with water and sewerage bills. 

Customers with a concession card may be eligible for a concession and can apply by completing our Apply for a Concession online form or contact us for assistance.

What is my money spent on?

As a 100% customer-funded organisation, it’s important that our customers understand how we are putting their bills to work. 

Of every $100, about $45 is spent on water and sewer services – this relates to the 19 water treatment and 16 water reclamation plants that we operate. 

We have started a large capital works program, which are time-critical infrastructure upgrades and renewals to underpin our region’s prosperity and help us address the challenges we face.

Almost $30 is spent on maintaining our ‘hidden network’ of water and sewer mains whilst the remainder is split between environmental protection, maintenance of our three major reservoirs near Kyneton, customer service functions and corporate costs associated with running an office.

Why are infrastructure upgrades and renewals needed in our region?

Our built structures, some dating back to the goldrush, are ageing and a major program of upgrades and renewal must be funded and delivered in a way that allows us to prepare for tomorrow, while being fair to customers today.

Just like the other things we own (our homes or cars) our water infrastructure requires regular investment and renewal. It’s our responsibility to maintain and upgrade these vital community water and sewer assets for the next 50 years.

Why is so much of the bill made up of fixed charges?

There are three components to your residential bill – water fixed charges, water variable charge and sewer fixed charge.

The water variable charge is a single price per kilolitre of water used. This component of a bill will vary depending on the amount of water the customer uses. 

The water and sewer fixed charges are the costs we associate with operating and maintaining water and sewer treatment and delivery infrastructure.

The cost of maintaining our treatment plants, pipes and reservoirs is high and we recover this cost through the fixed component of customer bills.  These costs are incurred across our entire network. That is why all customers contribute the same amount (pay the same fixed cost), regardless of usage.

I hardly send anything down the drain – what is the sewer price for?    

The sewer fixed charges are the costs we associate with operating and maintaining water and sewer treatment and delivery infrastructure. These charges are calculated daily. 

What is a New Customer Contribution?

A New Customer Contribution (NCC) is a fee paid by those looking to develop property. The fee is charged when a new property applies to have services available. 

As significant development continues in all parts of our service region, we incur capital costs to upsize our networks, and upgrade storage and treatment facilities to meet demand. Last year, the NCC cost increased for developers. 

If we fail to deliver the promised investment in sewer infrastructure, we will apply a rebate of 20% to the sewer NCCs we charge in the following year. An independent audit in August 2024 will confirm the level of investment, and whether this rebate will apply. 

The water NCC and recycled water NCC will increase in line with sewer NCC (20% increase each year) until actual cost is reached, excluding inflation.

I am a rural customer, what do these price changes mean for me? 

Rural charges in 2024/25 will increase by less than inflation, with most charges increasing by 2.3%. This increase is less than the previous year when rural charges increased by 5.7%.  

These charges help fund a variety of water security projects and maintain operations within the rural network. We will continue with the development of a detailed business case to make the rural system more efficient, and we will provide an update on this in coming months.

A list of our rural fees can be found online here. We mailed a copy of the updated fees and charges to our rural customers on Friday 21 June. 

Which pricing district is my town in?

Treated District
Axedale, Barkers Creek, Bealiba, Bendigo, Boort, Bridgewater, Campbells Creek, Castlemaine, Chewton, Cohuna, Dunolly, Echuca, Elmore, Elphinstone, Fryerstown, Gannawarra, Goornong, Guildford, Gunbower, Harcourt, Heathcote, Huntly, Inglewood, Korong Vale, Kyneton, Laanecoorie, Leitchville, Lockington, Maiden Gully, Maldon, Maldon-Newstead Pipeline, Malmsbury, Mandurang, Marong, Mead, Newstead, Pyramid Hill, Raywood, Rochester, Sebastian, Serpentine, Strathfieldsaye, Taradale, Tarnagulla, Tooborac, Trentham, Tylden, Wedderburn, Yapeen.

Untreated District    
Borung, Dingee, Elmore*, Goornong*, Jarklin, Kyneton*, Marcorna, Mitiamo, Mysia, Wychitella.
*These towns receive part treated supply, part untreated supply. 

What has been achieved in the last financial year?    

During the 2023/24 financial year we invested money in the following ways: 
•    $2 million was invested at the Pyramid Hill Water Treatment Plant to refurbish the clarifiers and filters.

•    An $11 million upgrade of Echuca Water Treatment Plant was completed. The works included the installation of two 3.3 megalitre water storage tanks along with new pumps, a pump station and a new ultraviolet water filtration system.

•    A new five-kilometre trunk water main was completed, connecting Epsom and Huntly. It is one of the largest water supply pipeline projects installed in our region recently. 

•    A new 10-hectare Biosolids Base was completed at Dunolly, to help us process biosolids for sustainable reuse later, on farmland. 

•    A new 1.2 megalitre clear water storage was brought online at Trentham to increase the capacity and efficiency of our plant and network. 

•    The rollout of our $9 million Digital Metering Program was completed, with installation of data loggers in Bendigo as part of the final stage.

•    We wrapped up our largest ever program of water and sewer main renewals, with approximately $8.5 million spent. And there’s a lot more to do – with a further $20 million planned for renewal works between now and 2028. 

•    We’ve invested $2.5 million to renew sections of the Coliban Main Channel, with another $1.9 million in coming years. 

•    The Laanecoorie Water Treatment plant is receiving a water supply upgrade, which is almost complete. 

•    A multi-million dollar upgrade of the Bendigo Water Reclamation Plant is underway, with a tender for works released in January this year. The first stage of works is the Solids Handling Project. These upgrades are one of the single largest infrastructure investments made at Coliban Water in recent years. 

•    We have completed works to remediate erosion at Campbells Creek, with further significant works planned for Castlemaine Water Reclamation Plant during this pricing period.

•    Enhanced focus on protecting the most vulnerable members of our community, with an allocated $570,000 to support our Coliban Assist program.