Anger grows over Glamorgan Spring Bay Council’s rates rises

Commercial fishers have joined the chorus of complaints about a local council’s sudden and unexpected rates hikes, as marina fees surge “but with no improvement to services”.

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STRUGGLING commercial fishers are dismayed their local council is requiring them to pay hundreds more dollars to lease marina berths.

The cash-strapped Glamogran Spring Bay Council, which services East Coast towns including Bicheno, Orford and Coles Bay, has recently come under fire for hiking general rates by 15 per cent.

And now fishers who lease berths at the Triabunna marina – which hosts a mix of about 30 commercial fishing and pleasure vessels – are complaining the council has gone too far in its bid to generate more revenue through marine infrastructure fees.

In 2021-22, those with berths are being hit with an average 15 per cent increase in charges. A person with a floating commercial berth, for example, will be required to pay $4950 this financial year, compared to $4300 last year.

The Triabunna wharf. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council chief executive Julian Harrington said fishers at Triabunna were not made aware of the council’s intention to increase fees.

“Now they are expected to pay significant increases in berthing fees but with no improvement to services,” he said.

“In fact, services are questionable, with parking difficulties due to the large volume of cars associated with the Maria Island Ferry (and) land access around some berths (being) uneven gravel, which turns into a mud pool when it rains.

“For some berths, access to the vessel is only possible over the bow of the vessel, and one fisher says he cannot get his vessel out of his berth at low tide.

“(The council) does not appear to understand or appreciate the fact that many in the commercial fishing fleet are doing it very tough, especially in the rock lobster sector, which continues to feel the impacts of market disruption in the key Chinese market, and more recent closures on mainland Australia due to Covid.”

Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council chief executive Julian Harrington. Picture: Chris Kidd

Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor Robert Young said the council had “borrowed a lot of money” to build the marina.

“It was a commercial decision relating to the marina (fees), with a waiting list for berths,” he said.

“And some of the berth-owners live interstate and fly in. And we thought that the marina could stand an increase, bearing in mind the fact that council has not got enough cash, even in the current budget, to operate at a surplus.”

Cr Young acknowledged that some commercial fishers were experiencing financial hardship.

“If they are having difficulty in paying liabilities, they can contact the council and go and see them,” he said.

“And for those that are in difficult straits, accommodation can be provided for.”

Talks of mass rates strike as costs soar on East Coast

ANGRY East Coat ratepayers are considering a rate strike as more residents open their mail and find their rates have gone up dramatically.

The Glamorgan-Spring-Bay Council – which covers the towns of Bicheno, Orford and Triabunna – is struggling to pay for necessary capital works and has moved from a flat rate model to assessed annual value.

Some residents are seeing their rates climb by $1000 and more. A smaller number have seen their rates go down.

Mayor Robert Young said the rates attached to some very valuable houses had gone up substantially but 50 per cent of ratepayers in Swansea would be paying less under the new model.

“The rates charged on a $400,000 house are less than in neighbouring municipalities,” he said.

Glamorgan- Spring Bay Mayor Robert Young at Triabunna. Picture: Chris Kidd

Ratepayers are venting their anger on Facebook and suggesting rates not be paid by deadline to send the council a message. There is also talk of getting the state government involved as ratepayers ask how much a council can increase rates without oversight.

“A collective ratepayer protest with real bite is needed. We could all withhold paying rates and eventually apply for a repayment plan when forced to,” one resident said.

Glamorgan Spring Bay Council recently approved its budget for the 2021-22 financial year, including an $8.5m capital works program which included $1m for road renewal projects, $1m for Swansea main street footpath renewal, $1m for the Coles Bay foreshore walkway and $1.5m for works at The Gulch in Bicheno.

“Council has agreed to the adoption of a fairer rates model that will better meet the needs of the community and help put the Council on a sustainable financial footing,” it said in a statement.

“The council had faced significant challenges, including the financial impact of COVID-19, which have contributed to a projected operating loss of $787,000 in the coming financial year,” General Manager Greg Ingham said.

“The Assessed Annual Value rates model that has been adopted is fairer, more equitable and

reflects the growth in the region.

“Under the old system a flat rate was applied to all residential properties in each town.

Moving to a system that is based on the value of individual properties means a significant number of residents will see a reduction in their rates, while others with high value properties will see their rates increase. Even where rates increase, however, they will still be in line with rates charged in neighbouring municipalities”.

The council is still bearing the costs of agreeing to help Tassal pay for ta multimillion-dollar pipeline in 2016 so the salmon producer could pump freshwater from Orford to its Okehampton Bay operations.

Mayor Robert Young recently said money borrowed to fund the Tassal pipeline had taken “some effect” on the council’s finances.

“But remember Tassal pays for the water it uses and it has paid tens of thousands of dollars in revenue for the use of the pipeline to the municipality,” he said.