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Rate rise approved Maitland and Cessnock special variations given the all clear by IPART • MELISSAH COMBER
he Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has approved Maitland City Council's application for a special rate variation of 7.25 per cent each year for seven years. The tribunal handed down its determination last week, at the same time approving special rate variations for 28 other NSW Councils, and partially approving applications for an additional three. The rise, to come into effect on July 1, will see Council generate an extra $61.2 million of revenue above the rate peg of 2.3 per cent, which General Manager David Evans said will be spent on infrastructure. "The approval will ensure the organisation is able to financially sustain service delivery to a growing community;' he said. "Residents can expect to see more spent on recreational cycleways, roads and footpaths, sporting facilities, public amenities and access to the Hunter River over the next few years." IPART Chairman, Peter Boxall said that Maitland's application is one of the biggest cumulative increases in the state. "We are aware that concerns have been raised with the council and with IPART about the affordability of the increase," he said. "We have considered these concerns and determined that the application addresses these issues and meets the criteria for approval.
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Maitland and Cessnock ratepayers will see an increase in their notices from July 1
"This includes a demonstrated need to address the large operating deficits forecast over the next seven years, community consultation and awareness, and that the increase is reasonable having regard to the need and current rate levels." Council's variation includes the rate peg, and will
see the average residential land rate for 2014/15 increase by $71. Cessnock City Council has also had an application for a 9.55 per cent permanent special variation approved, replacing an expiring special variation that had been granted for 2013/14.
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