West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Saturday 16 December 1944, page 4


WATER SCHEME. THE BARBALIN PROJECT. Capital Cost £301,475. In the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday the Minister for Water Supplies (Mr Hawke) told Mr Leslie (C and D League, Mt Marshall) that the capital expenditure on the Barbalin water scheme to June 30 last was £301,476. The Barbalin water supply was not a separate undertaking under the Water Supply, Sewerage and Drainage Act and the Tressury therefore did not require provision in the departmental accounts for interest or sinking fund charges. The annual interest charge at 5 per cent per annum on capital expenditure would amount to £15,074 and sinking fund at 1 per cent to £3,015. The area covered by reticulation was approximately 500,000 acres. Of these 314,000 acres were now rated as being within the prescribed distance from the water mains. Abandoned farms mortaged to the Agricultural Bank were temporarily exempted from rating. Maintenance and operating expenses for the year ended June 30 were £4,148 and bad debts written off during the year £1,598. Water rates levied for the same year amounted to £9,310. This figure included rates on townsite properties as well as country lands and included holding fees.