Water forums

Customers of Gippsland Water will get chances to have a say in its future directions, including prices it sets, at a series of community and online forums.

General manager of customer service and communications Paul Clark said helping inform the water and sewerage authority’s pricing submissions for 2018-2023 was a key focus of the process.

Its five-year business plans, including proposed charges, prices and investment priorities, are submitted to the Essential Services Commission for consideration and eventual approval.

Mr Clark said the forums were aimed at gaining a better understanding of what customers value and expect.

Customers will have opportunities to meet face to face with Gippsland Water at the public forums or online in their own time.

“We will be exploring areas like discretionary spending that customers can influence, their expectations when they contact Gippsland Water and how we can best prepare for the challenge of climate change,” Mr Clark said.

He said Gippsland Water’s Facebook and Twitter pages would be progressively updated throughout the process and encouraged feedback through those channels.

Gippsland Water supplies water and manages wastewater treatment for more than 67,000 customers extending from Drouin to Stratford, Mirboo North and from Rawson to Loch Sport.