Peninsula Chamber said it would oppose the extension to the Council Special Rate Variation being sought through IPART which effectively extends the approved three year rate rise by a further seven years, bringing the total to 10 years.
“The Chamber will be making written submissions to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal opposing Council’s request to extend the special rate increase that effectively subjects ratepayers in the south of the Coast LGA to rate hikes for 10 years,” Peninsula Chamber President Matthew Wales said.
“This is particularly unacceptable when we are told by the Council that the rate hike is necessary to simply maintain existing services and that no new works or infrastructure will be undertaken in the foreseeable future”.
“Effectively, ratepayers in the south will be slugged an extra 30% to 40% over the next 10 years but get absolutely nothing new for it,” Mr Wales said.
“It is the Chamber’s view that this is an over simplistic solution to the Council’s $565M debt problem as opposed to a more responsible approach to paying down its debt obligations”.
Suburbs of neglect
“This comes at a time when suburbs like those on the Peninsula are falling into neglect with our local road network lacking kerb and gutter, stormwater drainage and footpaths. Roads are potholed and crumbling before our eyes,” he said.
“It is an absolute embarrassment that the Peninsula, which is one hour from Australia’s premier City of Sydney, has 70% of roads without kerb and gutter, useable footpaths or drainage”.
“On top of this, our town centres of Umina Beach, Ettalong Beach and Woy Woy are barely being maintained by Council where we are now being told that maintenance services will be further slashed due to Council’s financial woes.”
“To add insult to injury, our beachfronts are a disgrace with weed infested dune areas, eroding shorelines and substandard surf club carparks and forecourt areas at a time when we are supposed to be welcoming tourists,” Mr Wales said.
“And we shouldn’t forget our overgrown parks and reserves, neglected streets and roundabouts riddled with weeds and potholed roads”.
“Rather than take the easy road, the Chamber wants the Council to think more laterally than simply slugging the ratepayer for more money. The solution is broader than simply hiking up the rates.
“The Council should be further investigating the sale of surplus land and assets rather than capping those sales at the $60m threshold required by the bank. If the land or asset is not productive or useful, sell it off and pay down the Council debt.”
Mr Wales said the Chamber also believes that the Council should sell off the Central Coast Water Authority which potentially could raise $3.5bn.
“That money should go directly to paying down Council’s $565m debt and the balance placed in a Future Fund to finance Council’s operations into the future and kerb and gutter, drain and pave the streets of the Peninsula.”
“Peninsula residents have had enough of being Council’s cash cow and getting nothing in return.
“We have waited long enough for improved roads, services and community facilities. Nothing for the next 10 years is simply unacceptable,” Mr Wales said.
Council has not commented on the Peninsula submission plans.
