Lismore gives battling pensioner a break

AFTER an agonising 18 month ordeal, South Lismore pensioner Christine Anderson has finally been granted a reprieve by Lismore City Council.

South Lismore pensioner Christine Anderson has been given a chance to start catching up with her overdue rates bill after Lismore councillors agreed to wipe nearly $6500 in interest and debt recovery costs. Picture: Cathy Adams

AFTER an agonising 18 month ordeal, South Lismore pensioner Christine Anderson has finally been granted a reprieve by Lismore City Council.

On Tuesday night Lismore City Councillors voted in a closed extraordinary meeting to write off Ms Anderson's substantial interest debt on her unpaid rates bill..

The debt of $5457 was written off plus $1030 in debt recovery costs.

Early last year council took the controversial decision to sell Ms Anderson's home to recover more than $12,000 in unpaid rates, but the move was overturned in the Supreme Court last August.

Ms Anderson has since been paying LCC $100 per fortnight towards her debt plus a lump sum of $5000 but could not keep pace with the mounting interest charges.

The interest write-off will enable her to pay off the debt gradually over the next five years.

Lismore City Council general manager Gary Murphy will now negotiate a payment arrangement with Ms Anderson satisfactory to both parties.