environment · Toowoomba Regional Council
Toowoomba water bills to be charged through annual infrastructure fee and usage tiers
Toowoomba Regional Council has adopted water utility charges built around an annual infrastructure charge, consumption-based tiers and backflow fees for land within the water area.
Toowoomba Regional Council has adopted a new water utility charging model for 2026/27 that will affect households, businesses and other properties connected to council water services across the Toowoomba Region. The model combines an annual infrastructure charge with consumption-based tiers, and also applies a backflow prevention device charge.
Council will levy water utility charges on all lands within the water area for the supply of water services. The charging basis includes an annual infrastructure charge, a consumption charge for each kilolitre used and a backflow prevention device charge for each device installed on the property.
The base infrastructure charge applies to each property connected to council’s reticulated water supply through a normal 20mm connection. It also applies to some larger or non-standard connections, including residential properties with low-water-pressure issues that need a larger-than-normal 20mm connection.
Unconnected land is treated differently. For unimproved vacant land, the base infrastructure charge is 0.60 times the base charge. For land larger than 4 hectares with an exclusive Rural zoning, no base infrastructure charge applies.
Council also applied the charge to fire service connections used only for firefighting, unless they service communal firefighting purposes, and to lots created under the Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980 or the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997. For connected properties, the infrastructure charge is scaled to the size of the water service connection.
The water model sits alongside a broader 2026/27 rates and budget package. Council also confirmed a $70.00 per annum rebate on the water infrastructure charge for eligible pensioners with access to any Toowoomba Regional Council water supply.
The charging framework was adopted under the Local Government Act 2009 and the Local Government Regulation 2012. Council also resolved that the total change in rates and utility charges budgeted to be levied for 2026/27 is 7.34%, excluding discounts and rebates.
Reference minutes
Toowoomba Regional Council, Special Meeting of Council, 30 June 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council adopted water utility charges for the 2026/27 financial year.
- The model uses an annual infrastructure charge, a consumption charge per kilolitre and a backflow prevention device charge.
- A base infrastructure charge applies to connected properties and some unconnected land, with reduced or no charge in some rural or vacant-land cases.
- The charging rules cover properties with normal 20mm connections, larger connections, fire service connections and some body corporate lots.
- Eligible pensioners receive a $70 annual rebate on the water infrastructure charge.
- The charge is to be applied across lands within the council water area.
Why it matters
- The charging model changes how much households, businesses and other serviced properties pay for water in 2026/27, depending on usage, connection type and eligibility for the pensioner rebate.