A major review of water pricing has been launched to examine the costs behind bills for more than 2.4 million Southeast Queensland residents.
The state government has directed the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) to assess pricing structures at Unitywater, which supplies water and sewerage services across the region. The aim is to make prices more transparent and identify ways to improve efficiency to ease pressure on household bills.
The review will take place in two stages. The first, running until mid-2027, will focus on productivity and cost-efficiency measures. The second stage, from 2027 to 2030, will look at pricing, service standards and costs to shape future bills.
As part of the review, which will also examine fellow SEQ supplier Urban Utilities, the QCA will work with shareholding councils and Queenslanders. Its findings will guide future pricing decisions and set benchmarks for how providers manage costs and infrastructure investment. The process will follow the same framework used for other state monopoly businesses such as SEQWater. Unitywater is jointly owned by Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay councils, while Urban Utilities is owned by Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset councils.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates says the QCA review is 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,” Ms Bates says.
“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.”
Minister for Local Government and Water Ann Leahy says the review will support the state government’s commitment to help relieve cost-of-living pressures while supporting water infrastructure growth.
Further details on timelines and opportunities for public feedback will be released by the QCA. Visit qca.org.au.
