Community group lodges rates objection

The Bays Community Group has submitted an objection to the Valuer-General after the council rates for its community hall increased by 50 per cent.

Bays Community Group president Mr Bob Puffett said he couldn't understand why the rates had gone up when rates for his home, and those of fellow Bays Community Group members, had remained much the same.

Mr Puffett said he had written to the valuer general regarding the increased rateable value which had risen from 126,000 to $204,000.

"The aim is that we will have a fair rateable value so that council will charge the right amount," said Mr Puffett.

Mr Puffett said if the objection wasn't recognised they would "just have to pay the rates".

"We are not rate exempt, but the more I think about it, it's a community hall, we're not for profit and we're for community benefit so I can't understand why we shouldn't be exempt.

"We use it for polling booths, kid's discos, community meetings; all this kind of stuff to help the community.

"Every time I raise this at the community meeting people always ask why we have to pay rates.

"It was just a sudden shock to go from $126,000 to $204,000.

"For us that's a lot of sausages to sell just to pay the rates," said Mr Puffett.

Gosford Council's manager finance Ms Sharon Hutch said council is governed by the Local Government Act 1993 which requires council to levy rates on all properties based on valuation and services provided.

"Council can see that in the recent revaluation undertaken by the valuer general, the land value for the community centre located at 19 Woy Woy Bay Rd, Woy Woy Bay, has increased by approximately 38 per cent.

"This increase has had a substantial impact on levies calculated based on valuation; ordinary rates and special levies," said Ms Hutch.

Ms Hutch advised the group to contact the valuer general's office to submit an objection for the increased valuation.

Kaitlin Watts, 29 Aug 2013

Interviewees: Bob Puffett and Sharon Hutch