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LIFE & STYLE Page 24
INSIDE TE Page 32
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR KIDS
CHRISTMAS PARTY OUTFITS
SIR CLIFF WIRED FOR R SOUND
LOCAL NEWS
NOVEMBER 28 2012 WWW.NEWCASTLEPOST.COM.AU
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT PH: 49 610 310
Rate hike on the cards Council GM announces his plan to fix city hall’s financial woes
FINAL STRAW Concerned residents living in the streets around Westfield Kotara are speaking out in the hope that the company will rethink its approach to parking, particularly for staff. Th ree local residents and Councillor, Tim Crakanthorp, met with the Post in Cynthia Street at 7.45am last Thursday, at which time it was already fi lled with parked cars and Westfield staffers heading into the centre.
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HO, HO, AND GO Hundreds take part in Santa Fun Run PAGE 3
General Manager Phil Pearce with City Assets Director, Steve Edmonds
TRICIA MOROSIN
N
ewcastle City Council’s General Manager, Phil Pearce, last week announced dramatic changes to services and a potential increase in rates in a “proposed draft recovery plan�, designed to help dig the organisation out of debt. “I have indicated since my arrival to Council that major changes to the city’s fi nances are needed and have been reinforcing this message
for more than 12 months,� Mr Pearce said. “In March this year, Council predicted an $8.4 million deficit for the current fi nancial year and I am committed to address this and bring the budget back into balance over two fi nancial years. The situation has not changed.� He admitted Council has been “facing a fi nancially challenging time� and blamed ageing infrastructure, cost shifting from the State and Federal Governments, rising operating costs, fees and charges, combined with a drop in grants and contributions. As a result, Council stated that a special rate
variation of 7 per cent would be implemented over a five-year period from 2017/18, in order to raise $24.8 million and that entry fees will be applied to Fort Scratchley, the Museum and the Art Gallery. “If Council accepts the proposals being prepared, this will result in reduction to services and/or the cessation of services,� the official statement, which also hinted at a reduction in staffi ng levels, read. “The extent of these reductions is yet to be determined.� Continues on page 6.
VARYING STROKES Local team competes in the Cook Islands PAGE 56
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