Blatant Rip-Off By Yarra Valley Water!

FareEvader on 01/04/2024 - 18:07
Last edited 02/04/2024 - 10:34 by 1 other user

Yarra Valley Water (YVW) is committing systemic fraud!

On top of the standard charge for water usage, we're also being charged for:

  • sewer usage charge where the cost increases with the amount used (STEP tariffs). RIP OFF!
  • water supply system charge - I have to pay extra for YVW to maintain their systems? RIP OFF!
  • sewerage system charge - I'm ok to pay for this.
  • waterways and drainage charge - I'm ok to pay for this.
  • Parks charge - I already for parks through my taxes and council rates. RIP OFF!

Any class action lawyers here? Do we have a class action lawsuit on our hands?

Financial Water Supply

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Yarra Valley Water
Yarra Valley Water

Comments

  • afah0447 on 02/04/2024 - 12:38
    +1

    This is democracy manifest!

  • Herbse on 02/04/2024 - 12:44

    Parks charge - I already for parks through my taxes and council rates. RIP OFF!

    You don't. Yvw collects these fees on behalf of the council. So your rates don't actually include the parks charge already.

  • ihbh on 02/04/2024 - 14:06

    If you write a cogent one pager of your issues and suggestions for improvement and send it to the board of directors, you might get a response.

    If you send something like this, the mail boy who opens the letters will toss it.

  • minkzoo on 02/04/2024 - 15:23

    They are essentially just being honest and outlining their operating model to you, or in other words, they are breaking down the business costs. Whether you want them separated out on the bill or not, they are a factor in determining the final rate charged, that's how a business makes money.

  • curtturtle on 02/04/2024 - 15:55

    You could go full sov civ.

    "I do not recognise your water authority!"

    • mrdean on 02/04/2024 - 17:05

      Romley Stewart Stover says hello.

  • xrayed giraffe on 02/04/2024 - 18:11

    So stop the bills and cut your water off.

    There's plenty of rain water to collect, just use your rain water tanks.

    Here's a filter you could win if you don't like the quality
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/838913

    No? Then shut up

  • JIMB0 on 02/04/2024 - 18:56

    You should ask them for a refund of the sewage charges when they dumping it at the beach a while back.

    https://au.news.yahoo.com/aussies-stunned-filthy-melbourne-b…

    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/a-brown-tinge-wh…

    • SBOB on 02/04/2024 - 19:00

      Where do you suggest effluent goes during storm events, and inflows exceed plant capacity? You'd prefer if your local wastewater pump station overflowed instead?

      • JIMB0 on 02/04/2024 - 20:27

        This was raw sewage complete with the rubbish that comes with it (tampons, pads, plastic etc.) dumped into Port Phillip Bay. This was the first time it has ever happened and went on for around a month. I'm surprised it got so little attention in the media.

    • FareEvader on 02/04/2024 - 19:00
      -2

      That's what 99% of people on this thread fail to understand. These irresponsible corporations/entities are unethical in practice.

      • SBOB on 02/04/2024 - 19:02

        You realise the treated effluent discharge from the waste water plant is going there anyway right? It's not like they tanker it off to some secluded out of the way storage location :/

        You complain about their charges for maintaining assets already. If they built the wastewater plant capacity to handle every single extreme rain event you'd be paying significantly more in the infrastructure costs.

        • FareEvader on 02/04/2024 - 19:04
          -1

          Why not though? Why don't they use the money/profits to build these facilities? I'm following the money trail and all roads lead to a bureacracy of admin.

          • SBOB on 02/04/2024 - 19:07
            +4

            @FareEvader: If you say so.
            You seem to have very little idea on the infrastructure that goes into the water and waste water networks as it is to justify the costs on your bill, so feels free to complain that it's also now undersised and should be overbuilt to handle every possible rare weather condition.

            If you saw/understood the water and waste water storage and treating capacity of some of the networks in this country you'd be likely be actually impressed at the capacity they are able to handle

            As you're complaining about Yarra, feel free to review Melbourne waters future strategy (as that's where most of yarras waste water goes) and come up with areas for improvement in their process, capacity and costs. You'd likely be able to make plenty of $ in consulting fees if your saving Melbourne water $ from good ideas.

            https://www.melbournewater.com.au/about/what-we-do/publicati…

            Maybe start with learning what the eastern treatment plant does currently as that's likely where your waste goes
            https://www.melbournewater.com.au/water-and-environment/wate…

            • FareEvader on 02/04/2024 - 20:17

              @SBOB: Hey thanks, I appreciate that you took the time to educate me on water in my city.

              Are you in the industry by any chance?

            • meowsers on 02/04/2024 - 21:47

              @SBOB: What about the systemic "capital repatriations" the state government sucks out of these water corporations to pay for useless nonsense?

          • gromit on 02/04/2024 - 20:41
            +2

            @FareEvader: funny you mention that, but they do have plans in the works for facilities upgrades, one of which is $50m for the treatment plants. An upgrade that would not be achievable without margin above the actual cost to supply the services. This is the problem when people whine about a relatively small profit margin they have on top of the costs, that margin is to address risks and future capital works programs, otherwise you would get a massive sticker shock to your bill every time an incident like a flood, storm or network improvement happened as they would not have the funds to cover it and then you would see real screaming.

  • SteveBuscemi on 02/04/2024 - 19:42
    +4

    • Water and sewerage fees are separated out because not every Yarra Valley Water customer has a sewerage service, the same way not everyone has electricity and gas or phone and internet. It ensures those that only have a water supply aren't RIPPED OFF by paying for something they don't have connected.

    • Fresh water is a finite resource. Usage charges are to ensure those that use more pay more. Step tariffs have been in place for two decades to encourage water conservation and reward those that conserve water. Both ensure you aren't RIPPED OFF by subsidising those who use significantly more than average.

    • You get billed once by YVW at a retail level, but the $ actually goes to 3 separate entities. They are legally required to collect charges by the Water Industry Act 1994:

    • The Waterways and Drainage charge is a charge collected on behalf of Melbourne Water. This funds public waterways and stormwater drains etc. It has nothing to do with your water supply or sewage drainage.

    • The Parks charge is a charge collected on behalf of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. This charge and source of parks funding has been in place on water bills since 1958 (lol).

    Best of luck on that class action.

  • Pufff on 02/04/2024 - 20:06

    how do i block these stupid posts?

    • FareEvader on 02/04/2024 - 20:19

      Tata and farewell

  • meowsers on 02/04/2024 - 21:45
    Have a read of this. Will make your blood boil

    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victorians-face-…

    • FareEvader on 02/04/2024 - 21:47
      -1

      I am fumin'. Perhaps my anger was misplaced at the water company, when really it was at Dan Andrews?

      • meowsers on 02/04/2024 - 21:49

        I can't tell if you are putting on a troll but I think it's probably directly related to the government of any ilk.

        It's all about short term obfuscation to stay in power. Not even labor vs. liberal. They are all rat bags.

        • FareEvader on 02/04/2024 - 22:00
          -1

          No trolling, genuinely upsetting that there is so much complancency in the government and their associated bodies.

  • SirCH on 03/04/2024 - 09:18

    You do know that your electricity has a supply charge as well yeah? Is that a rip off?

    • dny on 03/04/2024 - 09:38
      +1

      saving that rant for a rainy day

  • gimme on 03/04/2024 - 14:52
    +1

    I guess OZB is (a cheap) replacement for therapy these days.

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