A recommendation was also carried that council provide a time period of three months for all cards to be returned to council with a full bond return and the general manager be requested to investigate an upgrade to the current system to allow for pricing of water to be modified at North Street, Black Springs and O'Connell that provides flexibility for future of those facilities.

Council has previously resolved to provide drought assistance to the rural and non residential ratepayers through potable drinking water, for use only within the Oberon Local Government Area.

Council introduced this subsidy in May 2018 and resolved to provide water from the Oberon standpipe at raw water cost for eligible residents.

At its March 2020 meeting, council resolved that given the current continued decline in the Oberon water supply and impending Level 3 restrictions the rate for access to non residential users to be aligned with current rates for residential users.

This is currently $3.00/kl. Council further resolved should the water supply levels reach Level 4 restrictions council further consider its position.

Since the introduction of the drought water subsidy in May 2018 a total of 12,486,000 litres of water has been purchased.

The total spent under the assistance program to date is $9,414.11 from a potential residential water charge of $36,920.77.

The total fee that would have been collected under the standard fees and charges for water from the standpipe (being $5.80 per thousand litres) the cost would have been $72,418.80.

The total savings to the community since the introduction of this policy is $63,004.69.

The bores at O'Connell and Black Springs utilise exactly the same dispensing units and electronic card to activate the delivery of water.

It is considered that the program has now met its intended outcomes by providing water to drought affected residents.