20 Apr 2006 - Positive Response to Council’s Rate Plan
Coffs Harbour City Council has voted unanimously to proceed with its application for a 9.56% rate variation to support the $21.5m Community Facilities Program in 2006/2007.
The proposal - for a 5.96% rate rise (in addition to the 3.6% 'rate pegging' allowance) - was extensively advertised during the public exhibition of the Draft 2006/2009 Management Plan.
During the 32-day exhibition period, 37 public submissions on the Draft Plan were received by Council. Of these, only four directly referred to the proposed rate variation, three in opposition and one in support. Last year, Council received more than 400 submissions relating to the rate variation proposal contained in its Draft 2005/2008 Management Plan.
"Council implemented an exhaustive public consultation campaign seven months ago to ensure that residents were aware of the rate rise and the Community Facilities Program," said Coffs Harbour Mayor, Councillor Keith Rhoades.
"The low level of submissions concerning the rate variation demonstrates that people support the infrastructure works contained in the Program and are comfortable with the funding strategy.
"Last year's proposal was seen as too high by many members of the community and, as we said when we adopted this year's Draft Management Plan, we listened to those concerns and put forward a new and more affordable proposition.
"I hope the public support for the program of works and the related rate variation will help result in a positive response from the State Government through the Local Government Minister Kerry Hickey so that these vital projects can go ahead as soon as possible," he said.
The 2006/2007 Community Facilities Program aims to improve the lifestyle of the diverse communities within the Coffs Harbour area while also enhancing the city as a regional centre. It includes the Hogbin Drive extension, the redevelopment of Brelsford Park as a City Park, improvements to Nana Glen, the construction and operation of Nana Glen Swimming Pool, restoration work on the historic Coffs Harbour Jetty and improvements to the Jetty Strip, further improvement to Woolgoolga Town Centre and Sawtell as well access and landscaping improvements at Sawtell Headland. The schedule of the Community Facilities Program was also expanded to help find funding for the replacement of Coral Street Bridge in Corindi and Middle Creek Bridge in Sawtell.
The eleven projects in the Community Facilities Program represent $21.5m in capital expenditure. The 9.56% rate variation will facilitate loans totalling $8.3m. The balance of the funding will come from grants ($10.475m), revenue funded loan ($1.5m), land sales ($1.095m), contributions ($35,000) and reserves ($100,000).
Council had also proposed the extension of the City Centre Business Rate by three years until 2015 to help fund improvement projects in the CBD. City Centre property owners were consulted on the proposal via a survey.
Of the 320 owners surveyed, 132 returned the form with 85 supporting the extension. Council, therefore, decided to withdraw its application to the Minister for Local Government for an extension of the rate.
"While there was clearly some support among City Centre property owners, it is not strong enough at this time to pursue that option," said Council's General Manager, Stephen Sawtell.
"The Department also made it clear that an application to extend the City Centre Business Rate is unlikely to be considered while it still has six years to run.
"However, this could be revisited in the future," he said.
A summary of Community Submissions to the Draft 2006/2009 Management Plan will now be forwarded to the Minister for Local Government to support Council's application for a special rate variation.
Once the Minister makes his decision, Council will review the Draft 2006/2009 Management Plan with the intention of adopting a 2006/2009 Management Plan by 30 June 2006.
Further Information:
Sara Hinds, Media Officer, 6648 4093/0407 227818
