NEWS DESK
Green wedge rate row still boiling along THE recently introduced Rural Living Rate was a hot topic at last week’s Red Hill Community Association annual meeting. The new category has added an extra 20 per cent (up to $1000) to the rate bills of about 700 properties of between 0.4-2 hectares in the green wedge. About 40 residents turned up at Red Hill Mechanics Hall to voice their concerns to Mornington Peninsula Shire mayor Cr David Gill and CEO John Baker, Saturday 12 October. The residents claim the new rate is “unfair and discriminatory”. They say the council should devise policies to survey, audit, interview and assess all properties in the green wedge, then implement a balanced approach with the rating system taking account of their individual levels of contribution to the green wedge. Resident Sandra Miller said the green wedge benefited all ratepayers and visitors so “we should be treated equally”. The new rate was adopted unanimously by
the council. Justifying its imposition the shire’s chief financial officer Bulent Oz said earlier: “The [smaller property owners] gain greater value than the general ratepayer from programs and policies which protect the green wedge and their rural residential amenity” and therefore should pay more for the privilege of living there. Cr Gill said the new differential rate meant that if one rate increases, others must reduce. He said the extra money raised from the landowners within the green wedge had helped reduce all other rates, keeping the budget inside the state government’s Fair Go on Rates cap of 2.5 per cent. Those affected by the Rural Living Rate can make a pre-budget submission at mornpen. vic.gov.au/budget until 14 November. Riled by the rate: Residents Robert Clark, Shelley Eastwood, Peter Shaw, Sandra Miller and Paul Whitaker at Red Hill Mechanics Hall. Picture: Supplied
Taxpayer group opposes ban on plastic bags Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au
Artist’s exploration of different mediums CAPE Schanck-based artist Di Crawford has explored many mediums in her career. Works from her “early days” with colourful silk threads to acrylics on paper and canvas to her latest painted mannequins are being shown to the public in her studio until Sunday 27 October. The works are part of her 12th solo exhibition and visitors (including children) are invited to explore the property which adjoins Mornington Peninsula National Park. Some of the proceeds from sales will towards drought relief for farmers. Di Crawford’s exhibition is open 10am5pm daily until Sunday 27 October (opening at midday Saturday) at 360 Rogers Road, Cape Schanck, call 0412 026 123.
A PLAN to ban plastic bags on the Mornington Peninsula is likely to run foul of the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance. The ATA, which claims to represent all taxpayers, said banning plastic bags “would hurt both small businesses and the environment”. Mornington Peninsula Shire councillors have given the go ahead for $165,000 to be spent on the first stage of a program designed to wipe out single use plastic items, including plastic bags (“Shire plans to ban plastics” The News 16/10/19). The mayor Cr David Gill told The News that councillors wanted the ban “done quicker” than the two years suggested by shire officers. He said councillors were “very intent on doing it right” and believed tighter deadlines should apply to ending the use of single use plastic items by the shire “to show people we’re serious”. Waste services team leader Daniel Hinson told councillors in a report that there was no precedent of a successful shire wide ban in Australia “given the requirement for changes to the local by-laws and potential concern from traders who may not support the ban and may request com-
pensation for lost business”. The ATA would back the traders’ claims. The advocacy group’s communications manager Emilie Dye said producing reinforced bags or “totes” would be an added cost to small grocers who “already have it hard enough competing with Coles and Woolworths”. “While corporate supermarkets virtue signal that they care about the environment, they care about profits more,” she said. “To make things worse, plastic bag bans fail in their core mission. Unless you use your tote 7100 times before buying a new one you are causing more harm to the environment than if you chose to use traditional plastic bags. “It is ridiculous to assume households do not reuse traditional plastic bags. Because of the plastic bag shortage, people now must purchase bags for the sole purpose of picking up dog poop, lining small trash bins, and any number of other everyday chores.” The list of single use plastics facing a ban in the shire includes balloons, water or beverage containers, coffee cups and lids, straws, bags, plates and cutlery, takeaway food containers and promotional items. “Whether it is a plastic bag ban or an attack on plastic straws, environmental regulation tends to backfire,” Ms Dye said.
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23 October 2019
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