$500 million sewer and water assets down the drain in merger assesment

Orange’s water and sewer assets are worth $500 million, yet general manager Garry Styles’ report has indicated they will not be taken into account when considering Orange’s capacity to stand alone.

Most metropolitan councils are not water authorities and the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has excluded water and sewer to keep the criteria consistent across the state.

Councillor Russell Turner said there could be deficiencies in Cabonne’s assets.

“Yet they’re not being taken into consideration at this point,” he said.

Mr Styles said the council was not clear on what Cabonne had.

“Cabonne has some services provided through Central Tablelands Water, some town services provided by Cabonne and some villages without services,” the report said.

“From a risk management perspective a proper review of this element is clearly needed.

“Given the size of the operation, the water and sewer business does contribute to the fitness and scale of the future operation of council.”

Orange City Council’s stand alone and merger proposals for the Fit for the Future process are available by visiting orange.nsw.gov.au/comment and submissions can be made by emailing council@orange.nsw.gov.au

An online forum will also be opened in the coming days.

Submissions close on June 17.