Pensioner discount on block

NORTHERN Rivers councils resist recommendation they drop rates discounts for pensioners.

NOROC president Jenny Dowell. Picture: Mireille Merlet-Shaw

WHILE a sweeping review of the state's 152 councils has recommended the dumping of their $250 concession discount, local councils have said they have no plans to do so any time soon.

The Independent Government Review Panel said the pensioner concession rate should be canned, in its first detailed report on its plans to shake up NSW.

The report said councils should "confront financial realities" and "social welfare should not be a local government responsibility".

However Lismore City, Byron Shire, Kyogle and Richmond Valley councils have all stated they are not considering cutting the discount.

Lismore Mayor and NOROC head Jenny Dowell said pensioners and those on fixed low incomes found paying rates and other costs tough.

"We've got an aging population and much of these people are asset rich, they own their own homes etc, but it's a tightened cash situation and the ability to pay rates causes a lot of stress for older people and pensioners," Cr Dowell said.

"We are mindful of our community and their ability to pay rates, and for anyone who is in difficulty paying rates, we ask them to contact council to come to an arrangement… to ease the burden of that big whack. Start communicating early. Don't ignore it."

Kyogle Council general manager Arthur Piggott said while Kyogle Council was not considering scrapping the concession discount, it would like to see the State Government fully reimbursing councils for pensioner discounts, instead of the 55% reimbursement that stood currently.

Discounts for pensioners:

• Lismore City Council: 3563 on concession discount. 19.5% of the population of council area are pensioners.
• Ballina Shire Council: 4500 on concession discount. 26% of the population are pensioners.
• Richmond Valley Council: 2222 on concession discount. 21.31% of the population are pensioners.
• Kyogle Council: 1269 on concession discount. 25% of ratepayers are pensioners.