Water bills are set to be less of a ‘drain’ on household budgets thanks to a joint move by a major Coast utility and the state government.
Unitywater will freeze its water charges for 2026-27 and limit the average annual increase in combined household bills to 1.6 per cent from July 1, passing on the Queensland Government’s bulk water price freeze in full.
The average customer will pay about $28 more a year, with the increase applying only to wastewater charges after Unitywater matched the state government’s freeze on water prices.
The council-owned utility said the pricing decision followed discussions with the Queensland Government and its shareholding councils to balance affordability with the need to fund infrastructure for rapid population growth across Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa.
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Unitywater estimates it will need to invest about $2 billion in water and wastewater infrastructure over the next 20 years to help support the delivery of 215,000 new homes while maintaining services for existing customers.
The Queensland Government welcomed the decision, saying it ensured households and small businesses would receive the full benefit of the state’s two-year bulk water price freeze.
A statement from Water Minister Ann Leahy’s office said the freeze would save South East Queensland families about $130 over two years as part of the Queensland government’s 2026-27 cost-of-living package.
