Southern Free Times - 04th June 2015

Page 1

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70 Grafton Street Warwick Week commencing Thursday, 4 June | 2015 | Edition 782

It’s all about jobs bss

Tapped into Origin

Riders flipping outt

Local sports wrap

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Disaster tax

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By SONJA KOREMANS RATEPAYERS may be hit with a tax to protect the council’s already grim balance sheet from another multi-million flood blowout. Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) mayor Peter Blundell revealed to Southern Free Times that an emergency management levy could be placed on all ratepayers after the July budget. “Ratepayers will be responsible for much more of the cost associated with disaster events in the future,” Cr Blundell said. The council which is more than $30 million in the red, was forced to write off $600,000 debt this month after it was left $7.2 million out of pocket for unbudgted flood repairs in 2011 and 2013. The two floods had a $61 million repair bill with $54 million refunded to the SDRC by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority. At the SDRC’s monthly meeting in Stanthorpe this month, a recommendation was carried forward to write off the outstanding flood debt. But Cr Blundell said a permanent solution had to be found to sustain its budgets. “Current discussions indicate a levy that could be placed on all rate payers, and would allow money to be directed to all forms of disaster related payments, for instance flood, fire, or landslide. This suggested levy arises from significant changes to the assessment process for disaster relief payments, which means councils and therefore ratepayers, will be responsible for much more of the cost associated with disaster events in the future,” Cr Blundell said. Tighter Federal Government funding has stripped the SDRC of its natural disaster safety net, with council will no longer able to access federal assistance to repair facilities such as playgrounds, sporting fields and parks. Emergency work to protect commercial, industrial and retail buildings won’t be funded either. Continued on Page 2

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A COUPLE tell of the horror of watching a pair of rabid dogs maul 20 of their pet goats to death, fearing they would be the predators’ next victims. Pictured is Janine Jamieson with her herd of goats. Full story, see page 3. Picture: TERRY WEST

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