Rain tax

12slotter · 10-04-2013, 03:36 PM

I read a lot of articles on the web some of which make me scratch my head in disbelief ,but this one takes the cake, when will it end . Its like a few years back talk of charging farmers here for rain water collected in dams .. i think the "powers that be" should filter out the fluoride in their drinking water because obviously they are truly affected in their thinking ....... http://www.dailyfinance.com/on/maryl...ff-chesapeake/

**cs123** · 10-04-2013, 04:16 PM

Beat this
http://rt.com/usa/rain-water-harrington-oregon-439/

12slotter · 10-04-2013, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cs123

Beat this
http://rt.com/usa/rain-water-harrington-oregon-439/

yeah saw that as well a while back now, dam world going nuts!!!!!!!

blueoval · 10-04-2013, 04:35 PM

And we complain about the stuff that goes on in Australia.

Road_Warrior · 10-04-2013, 04:57 PM

I'm pretty sure there is one Australian state that at one point in time banned residential rain water tanks, because it meant people didn't have to obtain all their water from the metropolitan water supply.

**cs123** · 10-04-2013, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I'm pretty sure there is one Australian state that at one point in time banned residential rain water tanks, because it meant people didn't have to obtain all their water from the metropolitan water supply.

I'm not 100% sure what Brisbane did, but if they didn't ban them they did everything they could to discourage their usage. I think the problem was mossie related. At the time water wasn't metered in Brisbane, happy days!

Franco Cozzo · 10-04-2013, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I'm pretty sure there is one Australian state that at one point in time banned residential rain water tanks, because it meant people didn't have to obtain all their water from the metropolitan water supply.

In the 80s, Sunbury local council was knocking back everyones requests to have water tanks on their properties, because of "hygiene reasons".

Parents got knocked back, in 1984, was illegal to have a water tank in Sunbury.

Funnily enough in the 80s in Sunbury, the local water supply got contaminated and 6000 people got sick from it.

GK · 15-04-2013, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

In the 80s, Sunbury local council was knocking back everyones requests to have water tanks on their properties, because of "hygiene reasons".

Parents got knocked back, in 1984, was illegal to have a water tank in Sunbury.

Funnily enough in the 80s in Sunbury, the local water supply got contaminated and 6000 people got sick from it.

I have a mate who lives in Woodend. Same deal there. He was livid!

He actually told them to disconnect him from the supply, but they of course didn't.

In the end, he put two huge tanks in, and has the water world at his feet! LOL!

GK

**ebxr8240** · 11-04-2013, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I'm pretty sure there is one Australian state that at one point in time banned residential rain water tanks, because it meant people didn't have to obtain all their water from the metropolitan water supply.

Up until recently it wasn't allowed in Penrith area..
I have a feeling most Sydney was the same??

2011G6E · 12-04-2013, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Up until recently it wasn't allowed in Penrith area..
I have a feeling most Sydney was the same??

I do recall that some years back...was it Brisbane where new houses at first weren't allowed to have water tanks, but then the government got all green and decided to allow it? That brought the explosion in popularity of those "flat" against-the-wall water tanks that a lot of houses now have.

Just seems stupid that in a country that can be as dry as this one, we are restricted in any way from catching whatever rain falls anywhere...

cupic · 13-04-2013, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I'm pretty sure there is one Australian state that at one point in time banned residential rain water tanks, because it meant people didn't have to obtain all their water from the metropolitan water supply.

LGA have the power to issue fines for having water tanks over 12000l in residential areas!

LG17 · 10-04-2013, 05:52 PM

Wish I could levee a rain tax - it's been ****ing down here all day!

**Charliewool** · 10-04-2013, 05:59 PM

Rainwater tanks were illegal in Melbourne metro area until sometime in the 80's. it was on par with by-passing water meters.

Falcman0o7 · 10-04-2013, 07:00 PM

Butt plugs are next! Pollution control. Yep, A filtered BUTT PLUG.
After that? Don't forget to pay you're oxygen bill!

Pinkbits · 10-04-2013, 07:28 PM

Just wait and see down the track when those who bought a rain water tank & claimed the rebate are taxed.

XBROO · 10-04-2013, 07:53 PM

Yep and if they get away with charging tax for the water in your tanks, just like farmers dams. Where do you think they'll head from there? Solar panels will be next, tax people for the sun.

cheap · 10-04-2013, 08:24 PM

For a long rime Brisbane council prohibited residential household from having rain water tanks.

The whole premise of rain water tanks doesn't make economic sense, I've got 6000ltr capacity, the equivalent cost of somewhere between $4.20 - $7.80 of mains water (depending on which tariff we're on).

To use the water I need to run my pump, which requires electricity which costs me extra money. I can drain the tanks in a couple of hours. Eventually the pump and tank will fail and will need to be replaced.

Our household will never be able to recover the costs incurred of having to comply with this scheme. Why do we have to put up with this mad green crap?

XBROO · 10-04-2013, 08:55 PM

Water tanks only really come back when we were in a drought, and had really strict water restrictions. You weren't allowed to water your lawn or wash the car, so everybody wanted a tank so they could use tank water and not have to worry about a fine. Now the drought is broken and we have rain coming out of our rear ends, tanks are just a waste of space. Yep I have got a tank which is always filling up, so I just let it run so the kids can put there togs on and play. Also so it doesn't become a mozzy breeding ground.

H.G · 11-04-2013, 05:43 AM

A few drops of turps in your tank stops the mozzies breeding.. Just add more after each rain.. It forms a skin they can't penetrate and such a small amount doesn't affect it's taste or you

XBROO · 11-04-2013, 07:35 AM

Thanks for the tip H.G, but the way it's been raining, I'll be using a bottle in no time.LOL

TheSneakiness · 11-04-2013, 08:52 AM

And thats the stupid thing, I know full well you can drink tank water but the builders in their infinite wisdom for my house have placed signs up on the outside taps saying tank water, do not drink.

Also they thought it was smart to NOT hook up the tank to the dishwasher... but fine for the washing machine.

blueoval · 11-04-2013, 10:09 AM

In SA they have strict laws for new homes and new additions to existing homes to have 1000ltr rain water tank as a minimum requirement for roofs over 50sq.m in area. Seeing as we were on high level water restrictions about 2-3 years ago, those rain water tanks came in handy for a short time. Dread to think of the back lash that would come if govco placed a rain tax on a mandatory requirement.

**Charliewool** · 11-04-2013, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

In SA they have strict laws for new homes and new additions to existing homes to have 1000ltr rain water tank as a minimum requirement for roofs over 50sq.m in area. Seeing as we were on high level water restrictions about 2-3 years ago, those rain water tanks came in handy for a short time. Dread to think of the back lash that would come if govco placed a rain tax on a mandatory requirement.

What backlash?....
Us "sheep" would placidly cop it like we do with every other soul destroying tax and levy that govco continually throws at us!

Kevxr8Leexr6 · 11-04-2013, 11:16 AM

Bathurst council are water storage self sufficient, raising the dam wall years ago. but with the drought bought restriction measures to preserve it. good planning and good governance , until last year when the council noticed all were doing the right thing and not using anywhere near what it costs them to run the resource. so we got our water bills almost tripled to fund the shortfall. love Australia. pffft

2011G6E · 11-04-2013, 04:48 PM

The idea of taxing farmers for the water that falls from the sky into their dams pops up every few years.

My favourite section of the Australian Constitution is Section 100...

Quote:

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA CONSTITUTION ACT - SECT 100

Nor abridge right to use water:
The Commonwealth shall not, by any law or regulation of trade or commerce, abridge the right of a State or of the residents therein to the reasonable use of the waters of rivers for conservation or irrigation.

...remember that the next time they prosecute someone for pumping irrigation water out of a river...the government depends on people not knowing what is hidden away in that snooze-fest that is the Australian Constitution...

xtremerus · 11-04-2013, 06:21 PM

AH! The catch word is 'reasonable'.
Or unless the States give the rights to the Federal Govt. Ie. Murray/Darling basin catchment deal.
We were all shafted there.

H.G · 11-04-2013, 08:19 PM

Ummm. Edit.. It may be kerosine.. It's been that long I can't remember..
Re post 15

**cs123** · 11-04-2013, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H.G

Ummm. Edit.. It may be kerosine.. It's been that long I can't remember..
Re post 15

I've used Kero.

creative · 12-04-2013, 10:08 AM

how about a bedroom tax....

The Uk are making changes to benefit housing.... Whilst in principle i would agree... ( anything to get people to go out and get a job ) Forcing people to live a certain way is just wrong. Maybe the govco should employ people to do their jobs well rather than line their own pockets...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21321113

steve.zissou · 12-04-2013, 10:17 AM

i work ion the plumbing industry.

In the US they have heaps of water but the govt wants more money from it, so they are now increasing water prices which they justify by saying the more water you use the more sewerage you produce - so it more sewage rates not water rates.

on another point, my office is in NSW. my quarterly water bill is probably around $10. obviously that wasnt enough so now they charge me a stormwater levy of $50 bucks. So i pay for the rain on my roof to be taken away. I asked if i blocked up my stormwater drain would they stop charging me the fee, the computer said no.

at my house i do my own sewerage and my own water collection. they'll try and charge me for that one day but they'll have a fight on their hands.