Rising costs: Ocean Grove’s Simon McLean disposes of rubbish at Drysdale’s tip.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
An “astronomical” increase in tip fees has accompanied a 4.9 per cent rate rise in City of Greater Geelong’s annual budget, according to a councillor.
Andy Richards blamed the tip fee hike on a “buried” slug in last week’s State Government budget.
Cr Richards said the state’s landfill levy had increased almost 50 per cent from $30 to $44 a tonne.
“This is effectively the State Government putting its hand into resident’s pockets every time they wheel their bin to the kerb,” he said.
“Council itself pays millions of dollars in landfill levy to State Government and in return gets very little back. You can’t just keep hitting ratepayers up and saying to council ‘It’s your problem, you fix it’.”
Cr Richards said the timing of the rise put the City in a “very bad position” because it began its budgetary process in February and had virtually finished when State Government released its own budget.
“This is an estimated extra cost of about $175,000 and is money that could be spent on infrastructure, children’s services or parks and gardens.”
Cr Richards said the City should print all state taxes and charges separately on rates notices and receipts at the land-fill gate.
Other council charge increases under the City’s 2011/2012 budget included a six per cent hike in leisure centre and outdoor aquatic centres fees and $20 extra a week for child care.
Dog registrations would rise $10 but parking fees remained at $2 an hour.
Council also approved a new $100 annual fee for real estate agent portable signs.
Mayor John Mitchell said the budget attempted to minimise cost increases for residents.
“We have achieved this despite a significant increase in costs to our operation and the need to service a growing population,” he said.
“The cost of the goods and services that Council must purchase to do its job has increased above the Consumer Price Index, so for us to keep the rate increase to 4.9 per cent has been challenging to say the least.
“We have achieved this by finding efficiencies in our operation across the board, not by cutting services.
“On the contrary, we have actually increased service areas that are being impacted by rapid growth. This includes planning and building, family services and parks maintenance.”
Cr Mitchell said expenditure on services increased $19 million on last year to a total $245.6 million.
“Our capital works program has also increased considerably over last year, having gone from $64 million to $84 million.”
Cr Mitchell said CBD revitalisation projects included $350,000 for new retail kiosks in Lt Malop Street.
Civic Car Park would receive a $200,000 upgrade and the City would pull down its building at 20A Gheringhap Street for 70 more parks.
The budget also set aside $20 million for new council offices.
