Residents were slapped with higher bills due to a more lengthy billing period of 130-140 days compared to the previous water bill last October for approximately 60-75 days.

Council has advised that this was "due to a system upgrade" and "council were required to do significant water meter re-reads to ensure correct billing".

The next bill before the end of the financial in May or early June will cover 90-100 days, before council bills quarterly for the 2019/2020 financial year. 

Some residents, however, have voiced their concern about the price of water at $3.17 per kilolitre in Young.

Council has said that "any surplus that is obtained via the on sale of water to residents is kept in a restricted fund to be spent only on water infrastructure".

"This amount does not cover the full cost of the maintenance and replacement of water infrastructure," council said in a statement.

Residents can access a breakdown of all water income and expenditure in the budget income statement, as part of council's water fund financial statements, on page 34 of the Hilltops Council's long term financial plan.  

READ ALSO: Lambing Flat Chinese Festival this Saturday

READ ALSO: Chinese Visitor Guide launch