Environment

Rebate on Rainwater tanks...sneaky tax

Environment

Posted by: snakewoman

27th Sep 2010 04:24pm

Do you know that it is better not to take the rebate ?
All that do take the rebate will be the first to be taxed on the rainwater they collect.Just like farmers get taxed on dam water.

I will be buying them without the rebate,(when I can afford them)
And growing creepers over them fast so google wont see them from the sky :)

Comments 20

s
  • 13th Oct 2014 12:34pm

As my father says his 2 large rainwater tanks in Sydney were a waste of money as you use electricity to run a pump to pump the water out.
And he has to drain them a few times a year as they get overfilled.!!!!

Not yet to be taxed don't give them any ideas!!

Anyone else agree?

Isildae
  • 10th Dec 2012 12:56pm

How would it be monitored? We have a 2000l tank which we use to grow our own fruit and vegies though currently it is empty because we purchased new guttering through Easy Fall Guttering and so far have been without gutters for three weeks while we wait for the installers to finish what was promised to be a three-day job. A flat tax on rainwater tanks wouldn't be fair because some collect more than others based on local rainfall so a meter is the only option but it would be costly to install a meter on every tank in existence and then employ people to read them.

Paulie
  • 17th Feb 2012 08:27pm

Five large RW tanks on our main property... and one at every rental. Despite this, we recycle 70% of water we use, as you do, Blossom*. Water is precious stuff, but I can't see any government ever taxing skywine!~
* We don't waste spit...

chookybo
  • 30th Sep 2011 11:55am

I can't see how the Government can tax rain water as the water falls from the sky and the Govenment doesn't own either the sky or the water which falls onto your roof and into your tank.

jjdrer
  • 18th Aug 2011 10:27am

GEM, are you serious ?? If people have rainwater tanks, they will use the water, not have all their rainfall go down the stormwater out to sea. I use the water from the large tanks in the kitchen,and laundry. a I boil and drink rainwater. Rainwater is plumbed into the kitchen and laundry, has been for over 45 years. The water from the 2 smaller tanks is used on vegetables, fruit trees, potplants and my drought tolerant garden. When the tank at the back of the house is low, I sometimes carry water from the one on the garage and put the water in the washing machine, both for washing and rinsing. We even washed our car with a bucket of rainwater. The only time it was ever squirted briefly with tap water was if it had mud on it.

Ollie
  • 22nd May 2011 05:54pm

If the government decide to once again 'rob us blind' and tax water tanks, everyone with a water tank will be forced to pay, no matter how much you think you can disguise it or lie about it.

We moved to a new home on a barren clay block in Central Victoria in 2007. We installed two largish water tanks, but did not bother with the rebate because we would be required to plumb God's beautiful rainwater to the toilet and laundry!!

My priority was to establish a garden, so
being an avid gardener, this rainwater was needed to for my plants throughout the drought, along with grey water and showered with a bucket, which we diluted with our rain water. It was really really hard going, but did manage to get some hardy things going.

The Government does what it wants, so one can never bet on their future taxes. Use and enjoy your rainwater, at least, it means you are using less town water. I feel confident that we only collect water from the roof, which is less than half our block size, so i believe there is still plenty for run off to fill our rivers etc. Many dams on small acreages, collect run off from a much broader area, so I do not feel guilty for my collection, as I put it to good use growing indigenous plants of the area thus encouraging beauty, birds, lizards, insects, bees etc..

gem
  • 21st Mar 2011 07:53pm

Yes i think their should be a tax on a rainwater tank because they wont to use the water from the sky that should be put back into ground and use on the gardens and pots plants too.

jamatock
  • 27th Feb 2012 04:51pm
GEM MUST BE WELL OFF AS I AM FINDING IT HARD TO PAY ALL THE GOVERMENT TAXES YOU BUILD A HOUSE THEY WANT SO MANY THOUSAND TO GET STARTED THEY SAY ITS FOR PARKS.FIRE SERVICES ETC THEN ITS MONEY FOR...

your right ANNE wait till the carbon tax comes in we will be paying air

anne
  • 26th Jun 2011 02:00pm
Yes i think their should be a tax on a rainwater tank because they wont to use the water from the sky that should be put back into ground and use on the gardens and pots plants too.

GEM MUST BE WELL OFF AS I AM FINDING IT HARD TO PAY ALL THE GOVERMENT TAXES YOU BUILD A HOUSE THEY WANT SO MANY THOUSAND TO GET STARTED THEY SAY ITS FOR PARKS.FIRE SERVICES ETC THEN ITS MONEY FOR BINS WANT A FOOTPATH THEN COUGH UP MORE MONEY MY FAMILYS ARE HAVING MONEY PROBLEMS AND SO ARE FRIENDS KIDS FAMILYS HOW THE HELL ARE THEY SUPPOSE TO GET ANY WHEN ALL THE GOVERMENT DO IS HOLD OUT THERE HANDS FOR MONEY WE WILL BE PAYING FOR FRESH AIR IN 10 YEARS

sarishka
  • 17th Mar 2011 01:09pm

Governments on all levels have had a way of removing important infrastructure over the years. It's not that many years ago that every house had its own water supply, railway lines ran through every little town, trams conveyed people around cities etc.

I remember when councils ordered the removal of rain water tanks after a water supply had been built and needed to be paid for. Politics is shortsighted, hence the lack of good infrastructure in this country.

I have a rain water tank which I never removed when the water supply came to town, but many others did and are paying for it now To have ones own supply of pure water on tap is just heaven. My right to clean uncontaminated water will be taxed over my dead body, as will any tax on my well.

nanab
  • 17th Mar 2011 09:13am

I hope we do not get taxed on our water...

Anonymous
  • 19th Feb 2011 08:14am

In NZ, water tanks are not a hot topic and the price of them is high. The govt is yet to see the wisdom of encouraging homeowners to put them in. It is so hard after 20 odd years in Sydney to come to NZ and see water being wasted so frequently.

At the end of the day if we all do our bit for the planet there might be more of it for us all to enjoy.

Anonymous
  • 4th Jul 2011 10:17am
Yes i think their should be a tax on a rainwater tank because they wont to use the water from the sky that should be put back into ground and use on the gardens and pots plants too.

Unfortunately NZ does waste water and there is no incentive to have your own water tanks. However, there is a push for us to start learning to conserve and waste less.

Eugine
  • 16th Feb 2011 11:59pm

Who can believe the politicians? They promise one thing and do another. There has been a survey of bores in Queensland whether they are used on properties or just for a household. In time we will pay for water no matter where it comes from,tanks,bores,dams or town supplies.

snakewoman
  • 8th Feb 2011 01:38am

I was told 2 years ago by a woman who works for `a water company` that in time, rain tanks will be taxed.

Just the same as the farmers are taxed for the water that collects in their dams.
This is the main reason the Govt. are offering the rebates, as they get your details when you make your claim for the rebate.

Yes the govt. have said that there will be no tax....but, we know these things are never set in stone.

As I said, I will be getting tanks when I can afford to do so,and can afford the plumbing and pump etc. and will not be signing up for the rebate.

And, as you know ,the councils now use the Google Earth photos to `look`behind rate payers fences...I wonder if in time all tanks will get taxed, regardless whether a rebate was signed up for or not.

I am tempted to call my water mob and ask if they will state in writing
that if I get a tank and rebate that no tax will be put on the water that,by chance may fall over my property.

Laughs, If I do, I will surely post to let you know the answer I get given.

I also wonder if now that the country is out of drought, the water raters will fall ?

I know, I`m dreaming...

Anonymous
  • 7th Feb 2011 08:29pm

The more people that put in rainwater tanks the better for the planet and the less likely that government could impose a tax.

The other issue is the urban pollution that will mean that in many areas you would need to be very careful what you used the water for.

Mish
  • 10th Jan 2011 11:58am

This idea was quickly opposed when it was brought up in parliament. Best not to live in fear and keep working towards saving the planet, whatever the cost.

AuntieTwo
  • 10th Jan 2011 08:03pm
This idea was quickly opposed when it was brought up in parliament. Best not to live in fear and keep working towards saving the planet, whatever the cost.

Quite right Mish. Parliament tends to respond to a good dose of voter opinion (except in the case of mining taxes I think!) so it's okay for ideas about taxes, rebates and the like to be discussed - as long as the harmful ideas don't make it to fruition.

ValmaL
  • 2nd Oct 2010 04:45pm

I don't think they will tax people with rainwater tanks.

jamatock
  • 27th Feb 2012 04:43pm
I don't think they will tax people with rainwater tanks.

don't be surprised what the government of the day will do if there is a hung parliament and the greens have there say

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