Armidale Regional Council has introduced a new verification system, to control the outpour of its two water-filling stations.
Councillors agreed at last night’s monthly meeting that Water Access Cards will be made available for those who wish to draw water at the stations.
The decision came after concerns the facilities were too vulnerable, with many non-rural residents taking advantage of supply.
“We had no control on who was taking it and where they were taking it to and we felt that a lot of people from outside our LGA were taking it for their use, either in their town or wherever their house was.”
The proposed new fees will be on public exhibition until late November.
They include a $100 access fee to obtain a card, and a pre-paid water charge fee of $3.90 per kilolitre.
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