The Queensland Government has directed the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) to review Unitywater and Urban Utilities water prices and help deliver more affordable water bills for more than 2.4 million Queenslanders in the South East corner.
Urban Utilities is jointly owned by Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, and Somerset Regional Council. Unitywater is jointly owned by Noosa Shire Council, Sunshine Coast Council and the City of Moreton Bay.
The review will happen in two stages – both designed to deliver bill relief – Stage 1 will run until mid-2027 and focus on productivity, policy, and cost-efficiency measures while Stage 2 will run from 2027-30, and take a detailed look at costs, service standards, and pricing.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training, Ros Bates said the review was an overdue move to support transparency between water service providers and customers.
“The last time the Queensland Competition Authority was directed to have a look at water pricing was more than a decade ago,” Minister Bates said.
“After a decade of decline under Labor, the Crisafulli Government has taken action to bring back independent oversight of Urban Utilities and Unitywater to make sure Queenslanders are getting value for money.
“The review will hold water service providers to account and put downward pressure on Queenslanders’ water bills in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
“This is just another way the Crisafulli Government is delivering on our promise to put the focus back on driving down cost-of-living in both the short- and long-term.”
As part of the review, the QCA will work with Unitywater, Urban Utilities, shareholding SEQ councils, and Queenslanders, to ensure the process is fair and transparent, the Minister said.
The QCA will deliver its findings to guide future pricing and decisions made by Unitywater and Urban Utilities, ensuring the long-term affordability, reliability and sustainability of the South East Corner’s water supply, she said.
The Government says the review process will be consistent with the approach used in pricing reviews of other monopoly businesses in the State, like SEQWater.
Minister for Local Government and Water, Ann Leahy said the review would support the government’s commitment to help relieve cost-of-living pressures for Queenslanders while supporting water infrastructure growth across SEQ.
“My number one priority is to ensure families are paying fair prices for water and sewerage services” Minister Leahy said.
“SEQ is growing quickly, and we need to make sure water service providers can support new housing developments while keeping bills affordable.
“The review will strike the right balance, ensuring water service providers can invest in infrastructure while being transparent about their costs.
“We look forward to reviewing the QCA’s findings in due course,” she said.
Further details on the review, including timelines and opportunities for the public to have their say, will be made available by the QCA.
