$14,000 bill 'too much'
Some Daleys Point residents are angry that they are facing a $14,000 bill to connect to water and sewerage.
The Fisherman's Parade residents say that they are not the "rich" of the area and the financial impact of the connection is too high.
Council's acting director of works, Mr Terry Bowditch, said the payment for the service could be made up-front within three months or over 20 years with interest charged at the 10-year bond rate.
He said financial assistance was also available with loan negotiations on an individual basis with repayments every six months.
To be eligible for financial assistance, property owners must be a pensioner with a current Health Benefit Card or be assessed by Council as experiencing financial hardship.
If there is a default on the loan, then it becomes payable when the property is sold, transferred or when the estate is settled.
One of the residents, Mr Degeling, said: "The capital cost of the services is an onerous burden unfainy levied."
"The residents were required to install approved effluent Bio Trete systems before at the same cost.
"This was not taken into account in the new charges," he said.
"Council will say that it has bent over backwards with community consultations.
"Of course, everyone wanted a sewerage system, but it was only after the consultation that residents were made aware of the financial costs.
"It's bad to be told the debt would be an encumbrance on your estate if you can't pay now," he said.
Another resident, Mr Michael Caulfield, agreed.
"I am earning a reasonable income and although I regard the costs of the services as both high and unnecessary, I am in a position to take out a loan.
"My pensioner neighbours however, have no income and no way of dealing with this financial burden," he said.
"Council's financial officer has assured them they will be able to make repayments of $25 a week.
"Sadly, this simply shows the officers lack of understanding of the extraordinarily tight budgets that they are forced to live on.
"To suggest the cost can be removed from their estates insults their understandable pride in that honourable goal of owning a house that one can pass on to children."
Mr Caulfield said the replumbing of houses, dismantling of old systems and their pumping, and the installation of the new service would cost up to $27,000.
Councillors decided to repeat notification of financial options and invite comment with a further report on the matter before making a decision.
Carl Spears, February 10