In a statement in its Talking Water last week, MIL said it had been receiving increased enquiry from customers expressing their concern that the new fee structure, which came into effect on July 1, would be paused in response to lobbying by a group of shareholders.
The statement continued:
“Firstly, we would like to reassure customers that there will be no pause to the new fee structure.
“Customers will receive their first invoice from the company under this new fee structure in early October for the first quarter of the 2027 financial year.
“Secondly, we would like to address suggestions made by this group, both through public comments and in various written material, that there is a 12-month transition window in which the new fee structure can be reversed.
“Please be assured that this is not the case.
“There are no such transitional arrangements. The new fee structure is now in place, effective as of 1 July.
“Finally, we urge customers to continue reaching out to the company with your questions.
“We also encourage you to view the company’s dedicated Fee Structure Review landing page and frequently asked questions to validate information you may be hearing from sources other than Murray Irrigation.”
The statement follows a shareholder meeting organised by a new group calling itself the ‘Concerned Shareholders Group’, and a subsequent petition it has launched.
It has claimed there should be greater transparency, improved consultation and an independent review of charges.
However, MIL says an independent review was undertaken, following which there was a period of intensive consultation.
During the consultation, all shareholders had an opportunity to provide feedback, and after an overall positive response to the new structure it was adopted by the Board in April.
MIL says about 80 per cent of shareholders will be better off, or no worse off, from the fee restructure.
The push to review fees came after MIL received feedback from shareholders that the previous structure, based around delivery entitlements, was no longer fit for purpose.
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