Property owners in Hobart City installing a variety of water saving appliances may be eligible for a one-off rates rebate. The Council is aiming to reduce its water consumption by 10%. Success would mean saving more than 20 megalitres of water a week (just think of 20 million milk cartons full of water). The rebate scheme is one of a number of measures Council is using to promote water awareness and conservation.
The Master Plumbers Association of Tasmania has developed an innovative GreenCity Service? program to provide training for plumbers on the latest water saving devices. GreenCity Service? providers will also be able to help you apply for the rates rebate. Contact the Master Plumbers Association toll free on 1800 667 766 to find your nearest GreenCity Service? provider. The Association can also assist with water and energy audits and child safety information.
First and foremost, the property needs to fall within the Council's boundaries and be connected to Council's reticulated water supply network.
Although the focus of the scheme is on the residential sector, non-residential properties will also qualify for some rebates. Because owners of non-residential properties are generally entitled to claim such expenses through the taxation system, a different set of rebates will apply. Rental properties will be considered under the 'non-residential' incentives scheme.
The Rebate Scheme began in January, 2004 and continued until the end of 2006. At the end of 2006 the Federal Government introduced the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) which meant the system Council used to determine the legibility of rebate applications was defunct. This provided the opportunity for Council to review the scheme and update where necessary to ensure that it stays relevant in a rapidly changing area such as water conservation. The revised Rebate Scheme is now an ongoing program with a set annual budget allocation. The scheme will run each financial year or until the budget allocation is used up, in which case the scheme will go into recess until the beginning of the next financial year when the next budget allocation becomes available.
Please note that you are only eligible for a rebate after the appliance has been purchased and installed on the property. Council will require adequate proof of purchase and installation. Acceptable documentation and terms and conditions of the scheme are specified on the application form. An application form can be downloaded or collected in person from the Council Centre at 16 Elizabeth St.
