The Victorian State Government has stepped in to secure water and sewerage for the residents of Rubicon Village.

Clare Kiely, Regional Director of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, says that the State Government will pay the $967 weekly payment necessary to start the service. When that time expires, the Owners Corporation at the Village must take over payments.

Ms Kiely wrote to residents: “On Friday, September 8, 2017, representatives from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), the Department of Education and Training (DET), Goulburn Valley Water (GVW) and Murrindindi Shire met with the VCAT Administrator, Richard Rohrt and Andrew Mattinson from Hamilton Murphy Pty Ltd to discuss the current situation and the concerns that have been raised.

“From the details discussed at the meeting and in response to a range of concerns that you have raised directly with us for some time, we recognise that a resolution to the civil dispute in relation to the private provision of water and sewerage services is highly unlikely.

“We have agreed that we (DELWP, DET, GVW and Murrindindi Shire) will work together with you in determining a long-term government solution that will guarantee a security of supply of water and sewerage.

“There are many issues that need to be addressed and resolved, as outlined in the letter to you from the Administrator on August 28, 2017, before a long-term solution can be agreed upon.

“In the interim, it is essential that a temporary arrangement be enacted so that water and sewerage supplies can be reinstated immediately. To this effect, we have reviewed the short-term arrangement that the Administrator has developed, as outlined in his letter to you on  August 28, 2017. We have been advised that arrangement will cost the Owners Corporation $967 per week.

“The short-term arrangement needs to be implemented and we have advised the Administrator that the Victorian Government will meet the costs of $967 per week for up to a maximum of 12 months. This would mean that the short-term arrangement would be at no cost to the Owners Corporation. If you would like to discuss this further, I would like to invite you to a community meeting that will be held at the Murrindindi Shire Council Chambers in Perkins St, Alexandra on Wednesday, September
20 at 10am,” Ms Kiely said.