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Capping rate rises means ‘services cut’
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Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au FRANKSTON Council is set on a collision course with the state government over Labor’s plan to cap council rates rises. Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins has written to Victorian councils, including Frankston, to warn against “jacking up” rates in 2014-15 before Labor legislates to limit rates rises at the consumer price index rate (‘Councils rates warning’, The Times 19/1/15). Frankston Mayor, Cr Sandra Mayer, has hit out at the state government plans to “potentially penalise” any council that increases its rates over the next 12 months. Cr Mayer said council was able to work “within financial constraints to provide essential services and infrastructure to the community” but its budget would be put under pressure by the rate capping policy. Council analysis predicts the rate capping plan will blow a $22 million hole in its budget over four years. “A big reason for that cost is state government cost-shifting, where council now bears around 80 per cent of the cost for programs like out local libraries and school crossings, after they started as 50-50 partnerships with the state,” Cr Mayer said. The mayor said the minister is welcome to review Frankston Council’s budget. “We invite Natalie Hutchins to pay us a visit to
Frankston Mayor Cr Sandra Mayer discuss how we manage our budget responsibly at Frankston, and see the extensive work we have undertaken in recent years to keep rate increases to a minimum.” Frankston councillors are concerned council may be forced to cut community services if the state government’s rate capping plan proceeds. A government spokesperson said the Andrews Labor government “is committed to a more transparent and responsible approach to rate increases”. “Under these changes, councils will need to justify their spending to ratepayers,” the spokesperson said. “The cap will come into effect in 2016-17, with appeals to be considered by the Essential Services Commission. “Unnecessary rate rises before this time could affect councils’ eligibility for future rate cap exemptions.” The Minister intends to meet with a number of councils in the coming months. Funding Frankston infrastructure projects could also be a challenge if the state government presses ahead with its rates capping plan, according to Cr Mayer. “There is constant pressure from sections of the community to make improvements to infrastructure,” she said. “With the state government’s reduced funding commitments and pressure on us to cap rates, someone has to pay for them or they won’t happen.”
Scooter man rescued after 5m fall A 57-year-old man riding a mobility scooter along a track near the corner of Old Mornington Rd and Nepean Hwy, Mt Eliza, last week went too close to the edge and was thrown down a steep incline. He fell five metres through scrub, bushes and brambles and was stuck for two hours before a passing cyclist saw his overturned scooter and notified emergency services. These included Dandenong High Angle Rescue team who are equipped to handle this type of rescue. Members said it was “fairly easy to help the man out” - although they still had a lot of setting up to do to make sure it all went well. Also attending were Frankston and Mt Eliza CFA brigades, Frankston SES, Frankston police and ambulance services. The track goes along Kackeraboite Creek and is narrow with fairly steep edges. The man would not to comment on the fall, other than to say: “I am not injured.” An ambulance officer praised him for assisting emergency services during his rescue. He was taken to hospital to treat multiple scratches and abrasions.
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(Opposite Pakenham Central) 5940 3866 Long haul: Emergency services haul the injured mobility scooter rider to safety. Picture: Gary Sissons.
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www.jaleighblinds.com.au Frankston Times 26 January 2015
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