Kingborough Council cuts hand mowing of Kingston labyrinth to keep rates down

Hand mowing of a labyrinth will be cut as one of several cost-cutting measures proposed by a southern Tasmanian council to keep rates down.

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

HAND mowing of a labyrinth at the old Kingston High School will be slashed as one of several cost-cutting measures proposed by Kingborough Council to keep rates down.

The council will no longer maintain the labyrinth — a meandering singular path to the centre of a circle — in a move that will save them $7000 a year, if approved.

It forms part of about $300,000 worth of savings in a draft budget that recommends a rate rise of 3.95 per cent, down from 5.5 per cent proposed last month.

CALL FOR STAFFING CUTS TO REDUCE RATES RISE

The council has also scrapped plans to employ an IT officer and an additional budget officer.

Other savings measures identified include a small reduction in advertising expenses, a reduction to Mayoral donations, deferral of aerial photography and some efficiencies in service delivery.

Kingborough Council will stop hand mowing the labyrinth at the old Kingston High School to help keep rates low. Picture: SUPPLIED

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter said the High Court’s decision not to hear an appeal by four Tasmanian councils relating to a Supreme Court decision that ruled not-for-profit retirement village Southern Cross Care did not need to pay rates had hurt their bottom line.

“It’s fair to say this has been a really challenging set of circumstances, to deliver a budget which minimised rate rises and maintained service levels,” he said.

“In an environment of low wage growth, it is important minimise rate rises as much as possible.

Kingborough deputy mayor Jo Westwood and mayor Dean Winter in front of their council chambers in Kingston. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“We want to minimise the impact of the Southern Cross Care decision on our ratepayers. This gives the State Government the time needed to fix the legislative loophole.”

Deputy Mayor Jo Westwood said a range of savings had been identified that were either not core business of council or could be delayed.

She said there was no need to maintain the labyrinth when it would be replaced by the Kingston Park development.

“I think we have managed to find a good compromise that is in line with community expectations and also is acceptable to the majority of Kingborough’s elected representatives,” she said.

The council will vote on the draft budget at a special council meeting on Monday.

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