Law firm to conduct review after complaints by Mount Barker residents over 2 per cent rate increase

A Hills council decision to increase rates is under legal review after a record number of complaints by residents.

The Mount Barker District Council chambers.

A 2 per cent rate increase by a Hills council has been met with heavy criticism by residents, prompting a legal review of the decision.

Mount Barker District Council has engaged law firm Kelledy Jones to conduct an “arms-length” review.

The council adopted its annual business plan in July this year, which included a 2 per cent rate increase – 1 per cent CPI and additional 1 per cent for “financial stability”.

The rate rise was approved despite almost 90 residents either opposing or questioning the size of the increase during a community consultation on the annual business plan.

A council spokesman said the decision had prompted 25 formal complaints under section 270 of the Local Government Act.

“Eighteen of these specifically requested an internal review of the council decision making on this matter and the other seven expressing feedback in the form of a complaint,” he said.

Among the key complainers is Mount Barker retiree Brian Calvert.

The outspoken local, who made headlines last year after being falsely accused of stalking a councillor, said the council was not doing enough to support locals in need.

He said many locals were still doing it tough as a result of Covid and were counting every dollar.

He also questioned the adequacy of the community consultation on the increase.

“Council is saying that to keep up with infrastructure demands, it needs the extra 1 per cent but just how silly is that when every bit of infrastructure is millions of dollars and they can only do it with big grants,” he said.

“People are doing it tough and I don’t understand why (the council) can’t see that.”

In a letter to residents, Kelledy Jones principal Michael Kelledy said the review would examine the council’s decision process, including how a 2 per cent rate increase was determined.

“That is, for the purposes of determining whether those processes were reasonable, appropriate and lawful,” he said.

“The review process will be conducted efficiently and fairly and, upon finalising our review, we will prepare a report for the council to consider, to determine the outcome of the review.

Mount Barker residents currently pay, on average, $1583 in general rates, based on a median property value of $385,000.

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