• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Susan Bissinger set for council seat after recount
  • Redlegs outrun Frankston Bombers
  • Rye prevail after a last quarter blitz
  • Table-topping start for local trio
  • Miss Inbetween gets the chocolates on Easter Monday
  • Bank manager grows ‘very fine’ potatoes
  • Reflections on going back home
  • Holidays are for fun and learning
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWS MPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
MPNEWS MPNEWS
Home»News»Petition urges rethink on rural living rate
News

Petition urges rethink on rural living rate

By Stephen TaylorMay 4, 2020Updated:May 5, 2020No Comments3 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

RESIDENTS pushing for the withdrawal of the contentious rural living rate have sent a 295-signature petition to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.

The increase, which adds about $900 to rate bills, was adopted unanimously by councillors when it was introduced last October.

The residents claim the 20 per cent rate hike levied on the owners of 724 green wedge properties of two hectares or less is a “cash grab”. (“No cash grab in green wedge rates” The News 14/10/19).

The shire’s chief financial officer Bulent Oz said smaller property owners gained greater value than the general ratepayer from programs and policies protecting the green wedge and their rural residential amenity and, as a result, should pay more for the privilege of living there.

About 40 residents turned up at Red Hill Mechanics Hall for that month’s community meeting to voice their concerns to former mayor Cr David Gill and CEO John Baker.

Paul Whitaker, of Red Hill, said residents were “shocked” at the size of the rate rise. Thirty-year resident Sandra Miller initially thought there “must have been a mistake” when she opened her recent rates’ notice. “The council has not been transparent in the introduction of this,” she said at the time.

“This 20 per cent increase on top of our already sizeable rates is completely unfair.”

The residents now want the council to devise policies to survey, audit, interview and assess all properties in the green wedge, then implement a balanced approach with the rating system taking account of their individual levels of contribution to the green wedge.

Cr Gill defended the rating decision saying the state government-enforced rate cap of 2.5 per cent applied to the total shire rate income, with individual rate notices varying according to yearly valuations. “Special rating categories are offered to farmers who received a 65 per cent rate dispensation because of the benefit they bring in protecting the green wedge from insensitive development.”

“There is also the potential for suitable properties to apply for a rural conservation rate of minus 25 per cent if works are approved that benefit the green wedge.”

Cr Hugh Fraser said affected residents “gained greater value than the general ratepayer from the programs and policies which protect the green wedge and their rural residential amenity”.

The higher rates paid for living within the green wedge would go towards reducing rates charged to general ratepayers and the owners of larger green wedge properties, he said.

The council voted to receive and note the petition and referred it to officers for action, or to report back to council.

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 5 May 2020

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Fire season ends

April 12, 2021

State on the road to mobile detection

April 12, 2021

Hospital’s new clinic for musculoskeletal illness

April 12, 2021

Safety beach rocks – for protection

April 12, 2021
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Weather
Apr 17, 2021 - Sat
Mornington, Australia
12°C
overcast clouds
overcast clouds
4 m/s, WSW
76%
768.07 mmHg
sat04/17 sun04/18 mon04/19 tue04/20 wed04/21
overcast clouds
14/14°C
scattered clouds
16/15°C
light rain
18/16°C
light rain
18/12°C
light rain
13/13°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

March 29, 2021
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

February 25, 2021
Property of the Week

Horizon sets new goal for property prices

January 11, 2021
Council Watch

Susan Bissinger set for council seat after recount

April 13, 2021

Brown coal to hydrogen: responsible or risky?

April 12, 2021
Interview

People of faith sound alarm on climate

March 15, 2021
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2021 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.