Nillumbik Council rates could rise by three per cent, councillors warn
It already has some of the highest rates in Victoria, but councillors are warning Nillumbik ratepayers could be forced to pay even more in the next financial year.
East
Don't miss out on the headlines from East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Nillumbik ratepayers will be slugged with a three per cent increase in rates, with homeowners in rural communities faring the worst, councillors are warning.
It comes after Nillumbik Council released its draft 2020-21 budget at a meeting on Tuesday.
The document proposed a two per cent rates increase, in line with the official rate cap set by the State Government.
An 8.87 per cent increase to the domestic waste service standard charge for the 2020-21 financial year was also forecast.
The document explained the rise was driven by a significant increase in disposal costs in recycling and general waste, the council’s responsibility to rehabilitate former landfill sites at Plenty and Kangaroo Ground and a decrease in gate fee income at the Recycling and Recovery Centre.
Cr Grant Brooker called on the council to “keep faith” to a past agreement where councillors specified to increase rates by just one quarter of one per cent less than the State Government rates cap.
“The headline for most residents will be a two per cent increase in rates and an 8.7 per cent increase in the waste management charge — all up that should see an increase of about three per cent to the rates bill of the average Nillumbik resident,” he said.
“We do know that there have been thousands of job losses in the last seven days — the implications of that means there will be massive pressure on our budget.
“It’s important that we keep faith with our commitment of 2017 on rates … that we keep faith in the policy direction of putting downward pressure of rates.”
Cr Peter Clarke warned residents living in Nillumbik’s rural communities would pay the highest rates in the municipality.
“This won’t be a rate increase across the board of two per cent — far from it — it will be three per cent plus,” he said.
“For those that argue that the rural communities don’t get enough, get ready for it, you will have the highest rate increases in Nillumbik — it is the nature of how the evaluations will play out.”
YOUR GUIDE TO BUSINESSES STAYING OPEN
Cr Clarke called to have the council review its financial hardship policy due to the coronavirus pandemic, and report back in April.
“There are people out there that are hurting, there are pensioners from day one who have struggled to pay their rates on a daily basis, there are single parents who struggle every year to pay these rates — now is not the time to change and move away from our plan,” he said.
The draft Budget is open to public consultation until April 26.
Submissions can be made on the council’s website.
MORE NEWS
SECRET CAMERAS CATCH YOUTHS IN GRAFFITI CRACKDOWN
HOW THIS HURSTBRIDGE KITCHEN IS FEEDING PEOPLE IN LOCKDOWN
FORMER PLENTY TIP SITE EARMARKED FOR MASSIVE SOLAR FARM
KEY PROJECTS:
• Redevelopment of the Diamond Valley Sports and Fitness Centre: $8 million
• Diamond Creek Trail extension: $5.9 million
• Former Plenty landfill site rehabilitation works: $3.6 million
• Road and carpark renewal: $1.48 million
• Eltham Sports Multi-Use Community Facility (floodlights and tennis courts): $1.414 million
• Hurstbridge Outdoor Netball: $600,000
• Diamond Valley Library Redevelopment: $580,000
• Greensborough Hockey Club pavilion redevelopment: $540,000