Lismore council plan to lift rates for biodiversity plan

LISMORE ratepayers have three months to comment on whether council should increase rates by about $35 a year to fund a draft Biodiversity Management Strategy.

RATEPAYERS of Lismore have three months to comment on whether council should increase rates by about $35 a year to fund a draft Biodiversity Management Strategy (BMS).

A motion to undertake community consultation on a proposed ongoing special rate variation of $500,000 per year was put forward by Cr Simon Clough.

"At 70 cents per week, I think it is the best value option in town," he said.

Cr Greg Bennett moved an amendment to the motion calling for public exhibition of the BMS to be deferred until it can be assessed by council's small business advisory board.

Cr Bennett passionately spoke against the BMS and increasing regulations, stating rates had risen 73% in the past six years for landholders, putting farmers out of business.

Happy to pay increased rates to see greater biodiversity across the region, Cr Isaac Smith was joined by councillors Vanessa Ekins and Glenys Ritchie who spoke in support of the BMS.

After Cr Bennett's amendment was defeated 6:5, councillors Clough, Dowell, Ekins, Ray Houston, Ritchie and Smith voted to support the motion. The draft BMS will go on public exhibition from November 26.