Bin tax fury: Hundreds to protest over City of Yarra’s controversial plan for annual waste services levy

OUTRAGED residents have had a major win in their battle against the City of Yarra’s bin tax with the council drawing up an alternative budget without the proposed levy.

Greens councillor Mike McEvoy.

THE City of Yarra Council will draw up an alternative budget without a bin tax, in the face of community outcry over the proposed waste service charge.

Councillors have unanimously called on a new budget option minus the annual $247 fee to have an average sized bin collected. The fee was to be charged on top of residents’ general rates bills.

Mayor Amanda Stone proposed the move for an alternative budget, saying it was a sign that the council was listening to the community.

“Given the overwhelming feedback we have received to date, this motion is intended to indicate to submitters that we are listening, and that we are prepared to consider all options for our 2017-18 budget,” she said.

BIN YOUR TRASH TAX, MINISTER TELLS YARRA COUNCIL

Cr Stone said the motion was not intended to pre-empt any decision by councillors and that regular budget processes will be followed and a final decision will be made on June 6.

Socialist Stephen Jolly, who has opposed the bin tax, since it was proposed last month applauded the move.

“The councillors felt the heat up their butts from the public. People power works.’’

It comes as residents are expected to turn up in numbers tonight to protest against the proposed bin tax at a rally before attending a council hearing tonight at Richmond Town Hall.

A record number of 497 written or online submissions have been lodged on the levy, with most opposed. And 136 people have asked to speak at the council meeting.

The inner-city council’s draft budget proposes a $247 charge for an average-sized 240-litre bin or $164 for a 80-litre bin. Even the smaller charge equates to about an 8 per cent rates increase. It is not based on property values.

It comes as Mike McEvoy, one of four Greens councillors, dismissed the charge as “costing less than a cup of coffee a week”.

In a video posted on the Yarra Greens Facebook page he challenged residents: “If you don’t want the waste charge, that’s fine, please let us know what services you would like us to cut.’’

In another video, he said: “Any attack on taxes or council revenue is an attack on arts and the artists.’’

The levy for the next financial year is perceived by many as a way of getting around the Andrew Government-imposed 2 per cent cap on general rates.