New tax for £60m sewage works?
Tuesday 7th February 2012, 5:00PM GMT.
Transport Minister Kevin Lewis at the existing sludge digestion plant
ISLANDERS could be saddled with a yet another tax to pay for a new multi-million-pound sewage treatment works.
Transport Minister Kevin Lewis says that a modern plant is now needed to safeguard the environment from harmful pollutants – a major States project expected to cost between £40 million and £60 million.
No cash has yet been allocated for such a scheme and politicians are looking at a sewerage tax, which could be levied like water rates. Guernsey, in common with several other jurisdictions, already has a sewerage tax, even though it does not yet have a sewage treatment works.
John Rogers, the chief officer at Transport and Technical Services, said that the most likely site for a new plant was where the recycling centre is at Bellozanne. He said that it could extend down to where the old incinerator now stands.
Full story in Tuesday’s JEP
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lets hope that office blocks , will pay their sewage tax as per head of employee.
composting toilet anyone ?
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Just when you thought it could not get any worse, along comes the poo tax!
Jersey is a very expensive place to live or run a business. Low taxes partly compensated for that but as the States add yet more purchase and consumption taxes, remove all the tax breaks and add social security to previously exempt things they are eating away at that.
Jersey, open for business, yeah right?
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Good point Pip. Jersey is an expensive place to run a business. Start with the high property prices, which are reflected in rentals, wages etc. Add on the costs of importing things to Jersey… in the end it is all added onto the final price of everything sold in Jersey, and every service that is provided here. In the booming 80′s putting up the end price was done without a thought, and as a consequence, Jersey is no longer regarded as “good value”. Tourists find us expensive. Industries such as canning, knitting and light engineering have all migrated away to cheaper bases. We have priced ourselves out of the market in so many respects. The sewerage tax will add a further unavoidable cost to every business and home in the island. And local businesses will be that little bit less competitive as a result. Our Ministers really need to start thinking outside the box, and concentrate on how to make Jersey a less expensive place to operate from. That would do more good for our economy than any fluffy, verbose “strategy” printed by our States on glossy shiny paper. Allow living costs to continue to soar ahead here, and you can expect the shutters to come down on our remaining businesses one by one.
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Here we go again more money to fork out, perhaps we should have put the 10 million for the town park towards it.
Will everyone pay or just middle jersey
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Easy- middle Jersey will pay, very poor Jersey and super-rich Jersey will be somehow exempt (which means we’ll pay for them too).
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This Govt’s scatter gun approach to everything shows just how dysfunctional it truly is….and this boyscout is a pawn in a far bigger game…..
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The site excavation work for this new plant is already well advanced and yet Mr.Lewis says no cash has been allocated for such a scheme.
Still it’s not like our politicians to let little details like that stand in the way of their grand designs. You can be sure that this new tax – down to the smallest detail- has already been signed off.
Do they think we are thick?
Err yes actually, they do.
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Poo Plant Mark II site clearance was well underway before the elections under the previous numpty to occupy the TTS hot seat.
To be honest I doubt most decisions are made at CoM level but are part of ongoing policies driven by the departments and the quangos.
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Here are the official stages of the project:
Stage (1). Announce a new sewage treatment
plant is required.
(2). Draw up detailed plans for
project. Build in over-capacity,
to allow for additional 10-20,000
increase in population.
(3). Have public consultation
exercise.
(4). Build project anyway and go way
over budget.
(5). Allow plant to run for a year
and announce new resevoir and
water treatment plants are
required.
(6). Repeat stages (2) to (4).
(7). Allow plant to run for a year
and announce new reclamation
site is required.
(8). Repeat stages (2) to (4).
(9). Run new inert waste facility
for a year and announce
replacement for old energy to
waste plant is required.
(10). Repeat stages (2) to (4).
NOTE: Additional projects for the following may be added at any of the above stages:
Urgently required new hospital.
Urgently required police station.
Urgently required new fire station.
Urgently required new prison.
Urgently required new school.
Urgently required new harbour.
NOTE: Need for urgently required social
housing units to be announced every
5 years.
FURTHER NOTE: All announcements for the
above projects to be accompanied by the following words and phrases:
“sustainable”
“carbon footprint”
“growing the population is our only
option”
“user pays”
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They tax the food going into you and tax it when it comes out the other end. Surely this is tax on top of a tax???
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If I have to pay any more hidden charges, I’ll end up in s..t street. I think I will join the Moaningoldbugger and S..T in the woods;-)
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why not make tax more fair first…
like capital gains tax
like tax on luxury boat fuel
like removing the upper limit of social contributions
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I’m all for fairer tax, but no need to add new ones – they just need to apply the current rules consistently!
What’s “Luxury Boat Fuel”? What classes as a “Luxury Boat”?!
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no tax for me,,,,,,I,ll do what bears do……..S**t in the woods
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If it’s user pay, I’m going to have to change my Diet !!
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More TAX!! Why don’t the States cover the cost of a new treatment works by charging the farmers? after-al it’s the fertilisers from the fields doing the damage. I suppose we will be taxed on the amount of bath water we discharge down the drain.
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Charging the farmers for putting nitrates into the ground is a bit of a Catch-22 situation as the States already subsidises the use of nitrates by the farmers.
Oh my head is starting to spin.
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Yup, because the farmers are rolling in money as well aren’t they?
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I thought the main problem was nitrates, so shouldn’t the farmers be coughing up most of the money?
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Let the polluter pay.
Think Local, Go Local, Think Traditional, Use Seaweed.
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This is bound to cause a bit of a stink.
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So our taxes didn’t pay for the ‘World Class’ sewage system we had a couple of years ago ?
If you think this is bad wait for the full liquid waste strategy bill £240M I hear.
Our politicians and some civil servants (Pro (Emeritus) Mulready perchance) have been taking the p+++ for years .Who is going to pay for it? Answers on the self addressed postcard please.
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OMG… How is it that Kevin Lewis transferred from running a dying cinema to being Transport Minister – just goes to show skill sets dont transfer! Pooh in, pooh ideas out! Joke!
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Well I am proved right yet again.
This was the ulterior motive I foresaw when the waterworks first mentioned the “free” connection to metres for its customers as it would save them money.
Ha! Ha! Ha! suckers.
As pauper has already pointed out the farmers are responsible for a large part of the pollution in Jersey like for example using fertilisers with nitrates in them which i am led to believe makes Jersey water outside accepted EU guidelines. Maybe someone from the JNWW co could confirm or deny this. Also all the toxic chemicals used in temps passe like DDT. I have no doubt farmers will not be affected much as they will get either a large discount or an exemption.
pauper as the state will know how much water you use once you are metered by the waterworks co. they will then be able to charge accordingly for sewage on the “what goes in comes out” principle.
Yet again the average Joe will get stung. At this rate Jersey will be on a par with many other countries before too long tax wise for the workers whilst big business will still get all the perks.
To cut your sewage tax use work premises or any other place but your home for showering and going to the toilet as much as possible.
People need to wake up to what is going on.
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No problem States of Jersey. Just make sure you levy it on an ability to pay basis based on income and assets.
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Never mind if the tax is levied fairly, ie: according to ‘usage’ the government of Jersey churn out enough s..t to make it free to the ‘man in the street’!
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“the man in the street” needs no more govermental effluant , he has enough already .
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Doubt the man in the street will need to contribute ‘Jersey Government’ will more than meet the necessary costs with their taxes if it is adminitered according to producing the ‘raw product’
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Yet again the signs of the island not coping with uncontrolled population.
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if the states say £40m – £60m – it will be £90m
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Ha Ha, you were nearly right, it’s now estimated around £250m? but wait for it, they will come back with a new figure of around £90m to make us all think there has been a big saving.
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Worlds first. For once the states are not taking the p*ss…. unless of course you pay them to !!!!
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New treatment works required…… wouldn’t have anything to do with the States’inability to curb immigration????? They’ll be telling us next that we need a new hospital!
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Well they say its all written in the stars!
Perhaps this is the origin of calling Jersey people crapauds!
Jersey is also known to be a very windy island,so hence cutting down on beans would be a great idea to prevent the toilet tax from exploding onto the scene.
Finally there should be a tax on the states as there always talking cack!
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I wonder if this is just a ploy for a new revenue stream.
Join the jersey taxpayers association.
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Our government costs the tax payer to much.
Unless there is financial accountability we are on a down hill struggle for survival.
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Was working down there last year and the management were telling me this, said they had no idea the time how it was going to be achieved.
The reason and based on what I learnt above, yet again lack of space. Jersey can’t just stop treating its waste, so if they replace something it has to run in parallel with the old system until change over. So I would assume this is where the vast amount of money is required by TTS.
The states on the other hand should be seeing the bigger picture, if we need £60m for this project then why the hell is £150m+ being seriously being considered for more office space down at the water front!! This upgrade has been a long long time coming and they know this.
KEEP PUBLIC MONEY FOR PUBLIC ISSUE’S!
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“Transport Minister Kevin Lewis says that a modern plant is now needed to safeguard the environment from harmful pollutants”
Now needed as in it wasn’t needed yesterday he’s just realised. Shame we didn’t know about it beofore spending £10 million on a place for the drunks to hang out.
Is there any form of forward planning in the states?
GK – They tax the food going into you and tax it when it comes out the other end. Surely this is tax on top of a tax???
Yes but that’s nothing new, you are taxed on your take home wage, taxed again when you spend it, taxed if you have any left to save ( those were the days )and taxed if you die. Taxed to eat and drink and now taxed to excrete, I think they are missing a trick not taxing the air we breathe – don’t hold your breath it’s coming.
I wonder if the imminent fitting of water meterrs to all mains supplied properties has the facility to tell when the toilet has been flushed, if so then this has been “in the works” ( sorry couldn’t help myself ) for some time.
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Is there any form of forward planning in the states?
No!
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Them that cause should pay, so charge a levy on all nitrate fertilizer imports.
How come the field run offs get into the main drains?
PSD insist on no surface water into mains drains.
We keep being told how farming is essential to keep our countryside – looks like its ruining it too!
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So is it £40m or £60m – not much in it really – what’s £20m to a rich Island like ours ? – probem is, is that our totally inept and out of their depth States members will end up paying £80m !
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The problem is the Nitrates,why don’t they just extend the sewage outfall pipe beyond Elizabeth Castle, well into the current so the Nitrates are taken well out to sea where the seaweed can use it to grow. THIS MUST SURELY BE THE CHEAPER OPTION.
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not much tidal flow in st aubins bay and i think that the pipe would have to go past noirmont to get a good tidal blast .
could be wrong here, but iam sure a salty sea dog will know .
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Better still. Extend outfall to Guernsey (they don’t seem to be bothered about their waters)
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or just ban farmers from using nitrates in the first place? after all, my borehole water is undrinkable (according to the States analyst), but the farmers keep spraying.
I suggested over 5 years ago to the Economic Development Department that Jersey should develop a strategy to become an entirely organic island. Think of the tourist boom that would generate.
But no, old farmer spud needs another million, and if we have undrinkable water and a £250m sewage plant to pay for, well, its a price worth paying so half a dozen Jersey farmers can get even richer.
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I have the same problem. I also have concerns over other toxic products used previously. Are these still in the water table? If so what are the states doing about it?
I believe farmers should pay for any problems caused as a result of their farming practices. As you point out some are very well off.
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Good point Donald. We get the “user pays” policy quoted endlessly at us. What about their other policy: the “polluter pays” policy?
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Jersey should develop a strategy to become an entirely organic island
A nice strategy that would sweep up many of our problems. Neither visitors or residents would object, we would be a Green Island.
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For once Mr Pond you are speaking some sense. Jersey as a totally organic island would be quite the marketing tool and beacon.
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between £40 million and £60 million.
This is TTS guesstimating gone mad. Are they allowing fo a 50% overspend before they even start?
Sounds like bit Philip (Kick Start) Ozouf style financial planning in action? Another kick in the nuts for the tax payer.
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This is the hidden reason behind water metering-they will tax you on sewage output according to water used.
If you don’t want a water meter say so- there is nothing in the water law that allows the water company to fit a meter without the housholder’s consent.
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This is the hidden reason behind water metering-they will tax you on sewage output according to water used.
But it would be simple to administer; a ‘flush tax’. That is how the water utilities work in the UK. Time ti merge Jersey Water and TTS? Maybe, but keep it out of the hands of the civil servants who don’t have a clue.
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Let the States Members pay! The amount of bull poo that comes out of their mouths would amount to more effluence than the rest of the Island heaped together.
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Well this just stinks of poor management and forward planning. I know my car insurance needs renewing every year, so what i do is put a little to one side every month so when its due i’ve got the money! shame the states of jersey don’t do the same thing.
Planning
Prevents
Piss
Poor
Performance!
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The Jersey Way
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Why do we pay income tax?
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Simple so the government can waste it and then tax us more for the priviledge.
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“Guernsey, in common with several other jurisdictions, already has a sewerage tax, even though it does not yet have a sewage treatment works.”
Pardon? Where’s all their waste going then?
Straight into the sea?
Nice. Lets hope their waste doesn’t float over to St Ouens Beach….
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New boy having the wool pulled over his eyes by the civil servants who have pet projects. Same story with his MOT story recently.
Kevin Lewis is obviously not the man for TTS – move over mate and let some one with some common sense have a go!!
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Tax on top of tax..on top of Tax….surely must be illegal….any smart Tax beagles out there with an opinion…?
Also it’s time we pushed Guernsey to have a sewage treatment plant and include Alderney and ASK who chuck everything into the sea it’s a total disgrace in this day and age
Environmental abuse……no excuse
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I think we should be taxed on weight produced due to the fact mine are mostly ‘floaters’ these days.
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This is another reason to REDUCE (not cap)the population.
None of our services can cope any more.
Increase population + reduced manpower = !!!
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Let’s start by taxing the States ‘Chamber’? That’s where most of the cr*p currently eminates from!
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Solution for the over-taxed population of Jersey – lets follow Guernsey and just fill our beaches with pooh!
There’s a huge 50% difference between £40million and £60million and it doesn’t take much of a brain to work that out. The least Kevin Lewis should have done is obtain a quote before thinking of a number, doubling it then throwing it out for Joe public to foot the bill!
Why oh why do we tolerate this constant lack of intelligence to rule?
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What does transport have to do with an environment issue.
Does any States member know what they are doing,I think not. We are getting more and more cr*p from them.
Prior to the elections, we were promised everything was going to
change. It has, for the worse.
Last September I had a water meter fitted and stopped wasting water.
When I received the quarterly bill I was surprised to see that I had saved 60%, but now I am thinking I have shot myself in the foot.
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So is it 60 million or 250 million…seems a bit of a disparity here….must be due to efficiency,accuracy and honesty again….mean while Guernsey political representatives are saying “I’ts perfectly safe to let raw sewage into the sea….so either it is and we are wasting our time and money or we have to accept someone is telling lies.so telling porkies seems not the sole privilege of Jersey politico’s……is it little wonder that we are tired,disapointed,disaffected and just longing for strong and truthful representation…we need more Le Herrisier’s in this island…more Bob Hills,and Mike Higgins…people who do not kiss ass or are bought off…..please let more come forward and if the reform is honest un polluted by previously stated agendas,,done in line with what was agreed by the States themselves….then your real men will come forward..men of principle and strength…please let it be soon
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