Waste debate continues

By Jim Mynard
BALLA Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler failed in an attempt to have Casey Council’s garbage collection charge set on a fixed amount for each tenement.
Cr Butler called on the council to adopt the Casey Community Rate Review Committee recommendation to reduce residential rates on all residential properties and introduce a separate service charge for garbage, recyclables and green waste.
Casey introduced a highly unpopular garbage charge that left people already paying high rates on their property valuation with a further impost for a simple service.
Some people were levied fees amounting to hundreds of dollars just to have their garbage collected.
Many objected to the green waste charge because they had established onsite composting.
At the 19 September council meeting, Cr Butler asked the council to endorse the review committee’s recommendation to reduce residential rates and introduce a separate service charge for garbage, recyclables and green waste.
He said the council needed to create a fixed rate on garbage before it went ahead with any rating rationalisation.
Cr Butler said most councils had a flat garbage rate for each tenement and this was needed in Casey.
He also said council valuations for rates were well above market valuation and the council also needed to look at the way heritage properties were rated.
“The heritage section of the rating review document is the hardest to understand,” he said.
Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland said the rate review committee had produced a fantastic document and officers would consider the material and bring a report to the council.
He said Cr Butler’s action was premature and the council should listen to the review committee and the officers before making a decision.
“We have nine months before we need to make a decision and we must make the right decision,” Cr Morland said.
“I agree with what Cr Butler wants, but we must go through the right process.”
Cr Butler expressed concern about the future of the review because he said a council officer briefing was clearly antagonistic toward the review report.