Jetty fee review 'promise'

Minister for Lands Mr Tony Kelly has agreed to review the current formula used to calculate jetty fees following a meeting with a Phegans Bay resident and a representative of the Bays Community Group, according to group president Mr Robert Puffett.

Mr Puffett and Phegans Bay resident Ms Kylie Kelly met with the Minister at the State Cabinet meeting held at Everglades Country Club on September 12.

At the meeting, Minister Kelly accepted a signed petition from local residents which he stated would be reviewed, according to Mr Puffett.

The petition contained signatures from 100 people from the Bays area and called for a public meeting on the jetty fee increases.

Mr Puffett said invitations would be offered to other community groups on the Brisbane Water who will be affected.

A minutes report taken at the meeting stated that in 2004, Ms Kylie Kelly heard radio station 2GB personality Mr Alan Jones mention that an International Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) report had made a decision to increase jetty fee rentals.

Ms Kelly contacted Mr Puffett about the issue to discuss whether it would have ramifications on home owners with jetties, boat ramps and moorings in the Bays area as the price rises would impact all of NSW's 7000 jetty owners.

A public meeting was held in May 2004 where 35 "concerned residents" attended to discuss the possible rise in rates, according to the report.

At the meeting, Member for Peats Ms Marie Andrews, the then mayor Cr Malcolm Brooks and Lands Department manager Mr Graham Harding reassured residents that the increase would only be marginal and in some instances "a decrease in rates would be likely".

The report said it had since been noted by several residents that the fees and the unimproved value of land has in fact risen by up to 250 per cent, increasing jetty fees by the same percentage.

A meeting took place between Ms Andrews and several residents on May 18 at which time contact was made to the Minister's office seeking advice.

Questions were then raised regarding the formula used to calculate jetty fee costs with several departments, with the Department of Lands unable to clearly articulate the formula.

The minutes stated that "The increase and formula are not reflective of CPI or capped, which implies that at anytime the rates can increase.

"With a high percentage of elderly and self-funded retirees, plus young families living in the Bays area, it was noted that this issue had caused considerable grief and some residents felt they would have to leave or sell those homes because of the implication of future fee rises."

It stated that it had been calculated by many Bays residents via websites provided by the NSW government that the jetty fees imposed would be more than the council or land rates and that in some instances over $100 per week would have to be saved to pay for these incoming costs.

The issue of siltation was also raised at the meeting.

"This impedes on the use of jetties in the area and considering the cost of fees residents expect to be able to use the areas they pay for," the report stated.

"Not forgetting the impact this siltation has on the environment."

Minister Kelly stated at the meeting he would review the current Unimproved Land Value of the Bays are, and would consider attending (or have representation) at the public meeting, which will be extended to all waterfront owners in the Brisbane Waters area.

It is anticipated that the public meeting will be convened sometime in November or January next year, subject to responses from the Minister.

Press release, September 26 Bob Puffett, The Bays Community Group