Roads and waste management a priority as Shire of Denmark locks in 7.9pc rate rise to cover increasing costs

Denmark ratepayers will face a 7.9 per cent rates rise over the next year, after councillors unanimously endorsed the Shire’s proposed 2022-23 budget on Tuesday — with major spending to target waste management and roads. Shire chief executive David Schober said the rates increase was needed to balance the rising cost of services. It follows a 4 per cent rise last year. “The local government industry as a whole is experiencing incredible rate increases, generally across the industry, it is going up more than it has done in the past,” he said. “For us we’ve got a 17.5 per cent rubbish collection increase — the 7.9 per cent doesn’t even get close to covering those kind of costs. “We’ve also got road infrastructure contracting costs which have gone up more than 100 per cent in the last two years. “Unless we pass on costs to balance the budget, we would be decreasing services.” The average payable rate for “non-rural improved” properties will rise by $124, while the average rate for “holiday purposes” properties will rise by $274. Properties in the categories of “rural — additional use holiday” and “rural — additional use commercial” will have an average payable rate rise of $660 and $781 respectively. Mr Schober said the councillors had tried to find a balance to continue providing services to the community. “Out of every $100 dollars only $41 — 41 per cent of our income — is through rates,” he said. “Most of it is through grants and application for funding across various different methods. “In relative terms the average rate payer is going up $167, that’s over the course of 12 months. “It’s just trying to balance a service delivery and not step back any service or service delivery the community would expect from the Shire.” The council’s operating revenue is expected to be $13.4 million and operating expenditure $16.3m. Capital works will total $10.347m and rates will bring in $7.636m compared with $7.054m last year. Shire president Ceinwen Gearon said council made the “careful decision in an effort to strike a balance” of service delivery, fairness and financial management. “The adoption of our 2022-2023 budget is an important step for us as we move forward into challenging economic circumstances,” she said. Mr Schober said the key focuses in the budget were waste management and upgrading road infrastructure. “We are certainly looking at waste and reforming waste, so FOGO will be given lots of attention this year in trying to get that implemented,” he said. “We’ve also got the Ocean Beach project and we hope to commence that project this year after lots of difficulties securing external funding because it’s a $4m project. “In addition to that, we have a number of sustainable methods, where we are looking at installing solar on building to bring down the reliance on electricity costs.” Combined sitting fees for elected members will increase from $92,734 in 2021-22 to $128,340 in 2022-23. Mr Schober said the “small increase” reflected the expenses they incur to be a councillor. “The councillors haven’t determined a schedule that is anywhere close to the top of what they could get paid,” he said. “There is banding within local government and you get given range, they are well within the maximum for that.”