Council goes for rate rise

Gosford Council has decided to apply for its "civic infrastructure" rate increase.

It resolved last week to apply for a special rate variation of 9.98 per cent general fund rate increase in the financial years ending and including 2008 to 2012, subject to the inclusion of "all objections and comments received".

The rate increase was to fund a list of projects, including implementation of the controversial Ettalong Foreshore Plan of Management.

The general fund rate increase sought was for 6.4 per cent plus the "allowable rate increase", which is currently 3.5 per cent.

Crs Vicki Scott and Jim Macfadyen dissented, stating that some people would not be able to afford the increase.

Cr Craig Doyle said he did not necessarily agree with the priority list but did agree with the projects on it.

"I would personally like to see a lot more of the roads issues a lot higher in the list," Cr Doyle said.

"That is not necessarily the view of the community."

Cr Doyle stated that if the community of Gosford was not prepared to put its hands in its pockets to assist in addressing the shortfall, nobody else was going to.

"This doesn't mean we are letting the Federal or State government off the hook," Cr Doyle said.

"It is in our interest and the communities' interest to keep applying pressure on local members to assist us in these projects."

Cr Peter Hale labelled the decision the most important one council would make, and the most important one it had made in the last 20 years.

Cr Hale said that the "poor attendance" at three community meetings to discuss the strategy showed the public's support.

"Clearly at those meetings support has been there," Cr Hale said.

"The rate rise puts the message to the State and Federal government that we are prepared to put our hands in our pockets, you put your hands in yours."

Cr Hale said he was also pleased that the strategy would commence or finish several environmental strategies.

Cr Terri Latella said she supported the rise because it gave the area a way to progress issues on the Central Coast forward, though she did not support rate pegging as such.

"It is not the right attitude to have for the future of our communities," Cr Latella said.

Cr Latella said she also believed council "could have done a bit of a better job" letting residents know "the way we feel".

Cr Latella made the statement in reference to 84 submissions in support of the strategy, and 112 in opposition to the strategy.

Council's director of corporate services Mr Nic Pasternatsky also made reference to a petition being collected by Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrews opposing a rate increase of $180, although he noted that she was "reluctant" to provide more information about the petition.

"Although the opposition concerns me I honestly believe it is because they haven't been completely made aware of what we (the community) need and why we need it," Cr Latella said.

Cr Latella said she also had an issue with the petition by Ms Andrews.

"I find it politically hypocritical to send this petition off when she knows that we need the concurrence of the Minister to get this rate pegging, she being in a position where a lot of the infrastructure is coming from the State Government which isn't reasonably looking at us."

Cr Chris Holstein said the strategy and rate rise was an important issue and a major issue, putting his support behind the strategy.

"To say I have not agonised over this decision would be an understatement," Cr Holstein said.

"Sixteen years as a councillor indicates to me, everything else has come from a council initiative.

"There is nobody in this chamber, no councillor who wouldn't support items on that list.

"But you will say no to them if you say no to rate rise this evening."

Cr Holstein pointed out that even if council passed the rate increase, the Minister could still "can it".

"If we don't get this rate rise, where will these works come from?" Cr Holstein said.

"I am very much concerned about the steps that we take from here and how we will win support from the government members.

"We have got to make it become a reality.

"Don't you be the ones to not let this city move forward."

Cr Trevor Drake said he also supported the rate rise, and stated it was "good" to see that the first six priorities on the list were on the Gosford centre.

Cr Drake said the funding would "free up funds" that could be used on projects such as "kerb, gutters and roads".

Cr Drake also agreed that a "lack of response" meant the community wanted the strategy.

Council agenda SF.13, 8 May 2007