At its council meeting held on Wednesday May 5, the water authority's board considered and endorsed the draft 2021/2022 Operational Plan and 2021/22 to 2030/31 Long Term Financial Plan to be placed on public display for a period of 28 days.

The Board will consider all submissions at its next meeting on 16 June 2021 prior to formally adopting the plans.

General Manager Gavin Rhodes the draft financial plans provide for the "ongoing financial sustainability" of Central Tablelands Water and the provision of quality drinking water over the next decade.

"These plans also provide for vital major capital renewals and infrastructure upgrades," he said.

"CTW does not receive recurrent government grants to fund its operations and only has limited access to capital grants for funding of its large capital works program.

"CTW's revenue is derived from its fees and charges, and as a result, consumption charges for financial year 21/22 are proposed to increase by 6.7% from $3.28 per kilolitre (kL) to $3.50kL; with the annual availability charge proposed to increase by 1.6% from $244 to $248 per annum for a standard 20mm meter connection.

"Overall, these proposed increases, will see the average residential water bill of using 182kL paying an additional $44 per year or 85 cents per week."

Other main fees and charges in the draft Operational Plan include:

Chairman, Cr David Somervaille, said the board was well aware of the challenges the organisation faced in delivering an essential service, and the importance of long-term financial planning.

"The draft (Long Term Financial Plan) includes major capital projects such as the new 12 megalitre reservoir at the Carcoar Water Filtration Plant which will greatly assist with the daily operations of the CTW supply network, and if the augmentation of Lake Rowlands finally comes to fruition, it will shore up the water security needs of our existing consumers and provide for growth well into the future," he said.

"A major challenge will be funding the ever increasing depreciation expense of CTW's high cost assets.

"On behalf of the CTW Board, I would like to thank senior management and staff for developing these important draft financial plans, and I encourage all consumers to read the plans and provide feedback as necessary."

The draft documents are currently on public exhibition at Council's Blayney Office at 30 Church Street Blayney and on Council's website at www.ctw.nsw.gov.au/publications/documents-on-public-display/

Members of the public are invited to review the draft documents and make written submissions by 4pm, 4 June 2021 to: General Manager, Central Tablelands Water, PO Box 61 BLAYNEY NSW 2799.

You can also email water@ctw.nsw.gov.au.

Central Tablelands Water supplies water to 14 towns and villages in the shires of Blayney, Cabonne and Weddin.