NEWS DESK
Second time ‘lucky’ for rates notices Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au
Packed lunch: Gina Poulos and Nina Jayilian with a food hamper given away.at Theodora House Cheerful Givers. Picture: Gary Sissons
Shop to support food care A FOOD charity that feeds the needy is encouraging people to visits its op shop to support its ongoing operations. Theodora House Cheerful Givers, founded by Gina Poulos, said the shop is “a little out of the way” and people may not know of its existence.
“It’s great if people buy something from the op shop,” she said. The cheerful givers dish out about 1000 food parcels each week thanks to support from the Langwarrin Hotel who pitch in about $1000 a month to keep food flowing to those who most need it. Ms Poulos said there is an “every-
thing for $5” sale at the op shop in the months of August and September. The feedback, outreach centre and op shop are located at 24 Whitford Way, Frankston. Volunteers are always welcome. See theodorahouse.com or call 0413 807 763 for more information. Neil Walker
A PRINTING bungle will see Frankston ratepayers receive a replacement 201819 rate notice in coming days. Frankston Council blamed a contractor for rates notices being issued with an incorrect address and assessment reference number on the back of rates notices. Council said the contractor will reissue corrected replacement notices to all Frankston ratepayers even though the barcode on the front to make payment scans correctly. “Council’s customer-facing staff were quickly armed with the information and processes they needed to assist ratepayers, and initial reconciliations of rate payments to date indicate there has been minimal negative impact,” mayor Cr Colin Hampton said. “Our skilled staff have been ensuring any incorrect payments are identified and redirected to the correct account.” The printing bungle comes as several ratepayers question why their individual rates bill has risen by more than the 2.25 per cent state government mandated rate rise cap. The rate cap, dubbed “A Fair Go” rates system by the Labor state government, applies to the total rates revenue council is able to collect and not individual cases. Frankston municipality properties were revalued last year by an independ-
ent contractor. Council said properties were previously valued for rates purposes in January 2016 and the average capital improved value (CIV) of properties across Frankston is 41.61 per cent, up as much as 6p per cent in some areas. Property values determine how much rates residents pay. Council said the Victorian Information Commissioner has been notified about the rates printing error. Payments made using the existing rates notices first issued will be allocated to the correct account. Information on the second batch of rates notices issued within the next fortnight will include “supporting information to ensure ratepayers have a clear understanding as to why they are receiving the replacement notice”, according to council.
Bins for compost
EIGHT south-east councils including Frankston have signed up to collectively send up to 120,000 tonnes of green waste to be turned into compost instead of going to landfill. A new $65 million composting hub will be built in Dandenong South thanks partly to a Clean Energy Finance Corporation loan of $38 million to waste management company Sacyr. “The facility will be able to produce up to 50,000 tonnes of compost each year,” federal Liberal Dunkley MP Chris Crewther said.
Frankston Times
13 August 2018
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