Council News WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2015
Issue 69
Weekly information from us to you Recycling for the soul
GREEN WITH ENVY: Jealous? You could be as happy as Environmental Education Officer Alice Kent by taking part in National Recycling Week.
Colouring in books for grown-ups, yoga, walking the dog – but what about recycling? New research has discovered that sorting the household rubbish is good for the soul. Planet Ark’s All Sorted: Answering the Big Recycling Questions report highlighted international research that found a significant link between recycling and life satisfaction. The study of almost 24,000 individuals across 27 countries uncovered that recycling gives us positive emotions by doing the “right thing”. “Recycling begins with all of us and National Recycling Week is a great opportunity to start recycling or to look at the way you recycle,” Council’s Environmental Education Officer Alice Kent said. Continued next page
Levee discussion ongoing There has been a robust discussion around Council’s proposal to fund its one-third share of the levee upgrade.
Pending the outcome of applications for State and Federal Government funding to cover the other two-thirds of the $23.3M project, Council intends to fund its $7.75M share with a temporary increase in rates. Council is currently having a conversation with residents at a series of pop-up stalls and online. Residents and ratepayers are also being encouraged to contact
Council to find out more or come to the community forum scheduled for Wednesday 18 November. Council’s General Manager Alan Eldridge said it is important for people to contact Council if they have any questions or comments about the proposal. “Some key questions from the community have been around how this rate increase would differ from previous special rate variations, whether or not it will drop off at the end of the five-year period and why all ratepayers have to pay even if they don’t live in a floodplain,” Mr Eldridge said. You can find answers to all of these questions at wagga.nsw.gov. au/srv or call 1300 292 442.
P U B L I C
WAGGA WORKS Our City's Creative Expression
FAST FACTS ON THE SRV
The proposed increase for all rateable properties not in the Farmland category is as follows:
Assumed rate peg 3%
UPGRADE COMPONENT 4.1%
Total rate increase 7.1%
The proposed increase for Farmland properties is as follows:
Assumed rate peg
UPGRADE COMPONENT
Total rate increase
3%
1.91%
4.91%
Proposed increase would be on top of the rate peg set for 2016/17
The additional increase would be maintained for five years, but will not increase cumulatively
The additional increase would drop off rates at the end of the five year period
Meet the team !
Council staff will be available to answer your questions at the following locations • Farmers Markets: Saturday 14 November 8am-1pm • Community Forum, Council Meeting Room: Wednesday 18 November 6pm • Sturt Mall: Thursday 26 November 10am-6pm
wagga.nsw.gov.au/srv
To find out what your contribution to the levee upgrade would be go to the website or call 1300 292 442.
A R T
Budget: $7,000 (ex. GST)
C O M M I S S I O N
Applications close: Thursday 3 December 2015
S K A T E
For more information and the project brief head to
T O L L A N D
P A R K
Wagga Wagga City Council is seeking Expressions of Interest from street artists for a public art project located at the new skate park in Chambers Park, Tolland.
www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/publicart P 1300 292 442 E publicart@wagga.nsw.gov.au W www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/publicart