The Deliberative Panel will act as an independent panel, representing the views of GWMWater’s broad customer base as the organisation’s pricing submission proposal to the Essential Services Commission for the 2018-23 period is prepared.

The panel is chaired by Barry Hall from Edenhope and is made up of farming customers, residential customers, retail business operators, food processors, welfare agencies and sporting and recreational club representatives.

The seventeen members of the panel come from across the GWMWater footprint and had not been involved in GWMWater decision making processes before.

Mr Hall said the panel provided the opportunity to start with a "blank canvas" and make decisions on the board’s pricing proposals from the perspective of a "reasonable person".

“The panel will be making judgements and providing input to the board on their views on pricing proposals that may have a price impact for GWMWater customers,” he said. 

“The first meeting was largely introductory and set the scene for the important issues that the Deliberative Panel will need to contemplate and make recommendations on. 

“The Panel will meet on several occasions in the coming months before making recommendations on pricing decisions to the GWMWater Board.”

The recreational contribution charge which all GWMWater customers pay in order to subsidise the cost of water for sporting clubs and recreational lakes will be discussed by the panel. 

The possibility of extending the Rural Remote Metering program to Urban Customers and cost impacts of many GWMWater projects in the pipeline will also be discussed by the Deliberative Panel. 

Mr Hall said it would be an exciting process.

“This will give GWMWater ideas as it prepares its pricing submission for the coming five-year period,” he said.