Petition against levy

A petition has been received by Gosford Council from both commercial property owners and business operators on the Peninsula.

A petition with 105 signatures was sent from owners of commercial properties and business operators in the Woy Woy area objecting to the introduction of a Special Business Rate.

The petitioners stated that the proposed rate was directly on the owners of commercial property, yet it has been promoted and variously identified as a Special Business Rate. The petition also claimed that vacant commercial property was to be rated.

A separate petition with 65 signatures was lodged by Ocean Beach Dry Cleaners and Laundrette, Umina, on behalf of businesses in the Umina CBD also wanting to register their objection to the proposed levy.

The petitioners stated that even though the levy was against the property owners, in nearly all cases the levy would be passed onto the tenants, most who already pay council rates and feel the proposed levy is unjust.

Council agenda P.37, P.38, May 24