Barwon Water Pricing Plan deliberations

Barwon Water Community Panel Registration Form

Barwon Water is developing its Price Submission for 2028–2033, which will set out the services they provide, the investments they make, and how much customers pay over the next five years.

To help guide these decisions, we’re inviting customers from across the region to take part in a Community Panel. The Community Panel will bring together a diverse group of local customers to help answer an important question:

How should Barwon Water invest in and deliver water and sewerage services from 2028–2033 — and what does a valued service and fair price look like for everyone?

The Panel’s recommendations will help inform Barwon Water’s submission to the Essential Services Commission.

This is a genuine opportunity to have your voice heard and influence decisions that affect households and businesses across our region.

Exclusions: People in paid political employment (e.g a Member of Parliament or local Councillor) and staff of Barwon Water are not eligible to register for the Community Panel. Barwon Water Board members and their immediate families are also ineligible to register. If you are unsure if any of these exclusions apply to you please contact Deliberately Engaging via info@deliberatelyengaging.com.au to check.

Protecting your privacy

By completing this registration form, you are providing Deliberately Engaging Pty Ltd with personal information about yourself. All personal information collected is handled in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles. You can review Deliberately Engaging's Privacy Policy here.

By completing this registration form, you authorise Deliberatively Engaging to provide Barwon Water with certain personal information, including your name, contact details and any necessary information, including special needs, to support your participation. No other personal information will be provided to Barwon Water without your consent.

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

Phone number (preferably mobile) *

Community Panel meetings

The Community Panel will meet in-person over four Saturday workshops between August and October.

Meeting 1: Saturday 22 August 2026 (10 am - 4 pm)

Meeting 2: Saturday 5 September 2026 (10 am - 4 pm)

Meeting 3: Saturday 3 October 2026 (10 am - 4 pm)

Meeting 4: Saturday 24 October 2026 (10 am - 4 pm)

All sessions will be held in person at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre.

Community Panel members will receive an honorarium of $400 for attending all four workshops.

I am able to attend all four workshops *

YesNo

Only people who can attend all four workshops will be part of the selection process for panel membership.

If you can't attend all four workshops you can simply close this registration form now.

Barwon Water would still love to hear from you. You can share feedback via the webpage or reach out to the team via:

www.yoursay.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/your-water-your-say

projects@barwonwater.vic.gov.au

Tell us about yourself

Barwon Water are committed to ensuring the Panel represents the diversity of its customers. We are asking you questions about yourself to help create a Panel that does this.

What is your gender? *

FemaleMalePrefer to self-identifyPrefer not to say

If you prefer to self-describe, how would you describe your gender?

Which of the following applies to you? *

I own my home (with a mortgage or without)I rent my homeI operate a business that receives services from Barwon WaterOther

If you answered 'other' please provide details *

If you are registering as a residential customer, what is your home address? If you are registering as a business customer, what is your business address? If you are both please provide your business address.

Street address *

Suburb *

Postcode *

Are you an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander? *

I amI'm notI prefer not to say

Do you speak a language other than English at home? *

I doI don't

What language/s do you speak at home? *

What country were you born in? *

Do you identify as a person with a disability? *

I doI don'tI prefer not to say

What is the highest level of education you have completed? *

High school or equivalentCertificate level I - IV or equivalentDiploma or Advanced Diploma or equivalentBachelor degree or aboveOther (please provide details below)Prefer not to say

If you selected other, please provide details of your education *

Do you receive a concession on your water bill? see: https://www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/billing-and-accounts/concessions-and-payment-assistance *

I doI don't

Barriers to accessing our services

Barwon Water understand that sometimes people experience situations that can make it harder to contact them, understand information, or manage bills. If you’d like, you can tell us whether any of the following have applied to you recently. This helps us offer the right support. You can skip this question if you prefer.

A recent difficult event or period of stress

A health condition (temporary or ongoing)

Disability or accessibility needs

A communication barrier (for example language, hearing, or reading)

Housing instability (for example moving often or no fixed address)

Safety concerns at home or in a relationship

Low confidence or support in managing bills or talking about payments

Low or reduced income

A sudden change to your income

Debt or payment difficulties

Have you experienced any of these type of challenges over the last five years?

I haveI haven'tI prefer not to say

Information about your business

How long have you operated a business that receives services from Baron Water? *

less than a yearmore than one year and less than five yearsmore than five years and less than ten yearsmore than ten years

Final questions

How did you hear about the Community Panel? *

I received an invitation in the postI received an invitation by emailI saw a promotion on social mediaI heard about Panel at a Barwon Water tour, information session or community eventA friend or family member told me about itOther

If you answered 'other' please provide details *

Travel support

All participants using their private vehicle to travel to the Community Panel sessions will be eligible for a per-kilometre reimbursement. All participants will be reimbursed for any direct expenses incurred while using public transport, provided they provide proof of purchase. Panel members who live more than 100 kilometres away from the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre (approx. 1.5 hours) will also be eligible for one night’s accommodation (booked by Barwon Water). If you need any help getting to the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre for any reason, you may also receive travel assistance – this will be organised if you are selected to be a member of the Community Panel

If you selected 'other' please provide details *

About Barwon Water

Barwon Water (Barwon Region Water Corporation) is Victoria’s largest regional urban water corporation. We have a proud history supporting regional prosperity by providing excellence in water, sewerage and recycled water services to our customers and the community for more than 110 years.

We deliver high-quality, affordable and reliable water services to more than 320,000 permanent residents – reaching up to 545,000 people during the peak holiday periods.

Our region of responsibility stretches over 8,100 square kilometres, from Little River and the Bellarine Peninsula in the east, to Colac in the west, and from Meredith and Cressy in the north, to Apollo Bay on Victoria’s south-west coast.

For more information on Barwon Water, please visit their website. For more information on Barwon Water’s Your water, your say: 2028-2033 Price Submission project, please visit the YourSay website.