Rate review unveiled for public comment

Jim Mynard
CASEY Council has made the Community Rate Review Committee’s report available to the public.
The council has taken the unusual step of releasing the report before it has fully dealt with its content, but confidential information will not be available.
Balla Balla Ward councillor Colin Butler asked for the data to be released and that residents be invited to comment on the committee’s deliberations. He also asked that representatives of the Community Rate Review committee brief councillors before the end of August.
The review was commissioned after a strong lobby from the municipality’s rural sector, generated by what it considered to be excessively high rates on nonproductive broad acres.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford said the rate review could lead to one of the most important decisions the council would make.
Sringfield Ward councillor Lorraine Wreford said some councillors wanted to quash the issue.
Cr Butler said that in December 2004 he had asked for the committee to be established and this had resulted in one of the most comprehensive documents presented to the City of Casey.
“This document has sourced information from 15 other councils. It is complex, but I suggest that councillors read it because from it they can learn a lot about rating. We put 20 people on that committee and I am pleased with the result,” he said.
Cr Butler said the public should be made aware of its content.
However, Four Oaks Ward councillor Rob Wilson said the report contained confidential material that should be considered by the council before it went public. He said Cr Butler was jumping into the matter headfirst before the council considered it.
“We already have extensive community input and protocol is that the council consider it first,” Cr Wilson said.
Cr Bradford said no government in Australia would put a report out to the public before it had fully deciphered its contents.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith said the committee had put enormous effort into the review and whether or not councillors agreed with its content they should hear from committee members.
Cr Butler said he was not jumping in boots and all because the document had been with councillors since March.
“I want to know what people think about it before I make a decision and many people want to look at it. There have been delaying tactics on this review since I proposed it,” he said.
Cr Bradford said copies of the report were available for viewing and comments were invited by Thursday, 10 August.
“This is one of the most significant documents this council will ever consider so it is important that we are not hasty in coming to conclusions,” he said.
The report can be viewed at the Customer Service Centre, Magid Drive, Narre Warren. People wishing to comment can write to Community Rate Review Committee Report Submission, City of Casey, Box 1000, Narre Warren, 3805, or email responses to caseycccasey.vic.gov.au