Page 4 The Moorabool News – 15 February, 2022
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Rating review rescission rejected By Lachlan Ellis What its author has called “the longest rescission motion we’ve ever done” has come to an end, with the motion to rescind a community consultation plan failing at Council’s 2 February meeting. Cr Paul Tatchell’s rescission motion for the ‘Revenue and Rating Plan – Rate Strategy Review – Community Engagement’ was first raised at the Ordinary Meeting of Council (OMC) on 1 December last year. The Community Engagement motion was mistakenly voted for by Cr Tatchell at the December meeting, and he flagged his intention to rescind the motion – but rescission motions must be lodged 96 hours before an OMC.
rezoning resulting in a value uplift to the land of more than $100,000”. For land with a taxable value uplift of more than $100,000 but less than $500,000, a tax of 62.5% will apply on the uplift above $100,000, with a 50% tax on any uplift above $500,000. Whilst Cr Ally Munari expressed frustration about the Rate Strategy, she was also concerned the recission would “halt it and hold it back”. Cr Ward and Cr Dudzik expressed concerns over what the consequences might be if the rescission motion passed, and the Revenue and Rating Plan was not passed before the State Government deadline, the deadline for Council’s next budget.
The 1 December OMC was the last for 2021, forcing the motion to be heard, at the earliest, at the 2 February OMC.
Council CEO Derek Madden said the report could be completed and adopted within the timeframe, but “we wouldn’t get a perfect alignment between the two processes…but we would still be able to achieve the timelines”.
In his rescission motion, Cr Tatchell explained that he had several concerns regarding the Rate Strategy Review.
In the end, Cr Tatchell’s rescission motion was not seconded by anyone, and thus it failed without a debate.
“We did a lot of briefings before we put together a report that was meant to go out to the public… subsequently the State Government introduced yet another tax called the windfall tax, which will have at the very least, a knock-on effect on the Rating Strategy,” Cr Tatchell said.
The Rate Strategy Review Propositions Paper has therefore gone out to the public as planned, with Virtual Drop-In Sessions to be held on Zoom on Thursday 17 February and Thursday 24 February.
“I think until we get a report on the windfall tax and have it inclusive as part of what goes out to the public, it would be remiss to put it out with some fairly hefty legislation not included in it.” The windfall tax, which will go into effect on 1 July 2023, is a tax on land “subject to a government
Feedback closes on 6 March. To view the Propositions Paper and have your say on the Rate Strategy, visit www.moorabool.engagementhub. com.au/rate-strategy. Community feedback is due to be heard at the April 2022 OMC, and a decision will be made at the May 2022 OMC.
Cr Munari said she wanted more rating models to be put to the people of Moorabool, but believed enough time had been spent on the Rate Strategy Review to put it out to the community without amendments. “I feel like what we’re putting out to the community…I am continually frustrated as well, I want more options for us and the community to have a look at. I agreed with Cr Tatchell’s frustration…I want more options on the table,” she told the Moorabool News. “At the end of the day, it’s the cards we’ve been dealt. I feel, with the windfall tax…I’m still comfortable where we’re at. I trust Council’s officers, they always do a lot of good research and dig deep to find the answers for us. “I put my faith in them, and I know that they will give us everything we need to make the decisions that we need to make.”
By Lachlan Ellis
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Cr Tatchell told the Moorabool News it was a shame there was no opportunity to debate the rescission motion. “The reason we second motions is to have a discussion – win, lose, or draw doesn’t really matter, it’s more about putting it out there so people can see it. I was disappointed…we’re putting a Rating Strategy out there that is incomplete,” he said. “The question was asked, could Council officers do a report within the timeframe, and the answer was yes, there’d be some pressure to do it… but that’s what we pay them for. “It’s a State Government timeframe…we’ve seen government after government withdraw or hold back legislation because of changes. Council should do that, what are you suggesting, we make a bad decision because the State Government says this has to be in by the due date?” •••
Kids take to the water
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COUNCILLORS FRUSTRATED
A local bank has splashed some cash this summer, footing the bill for three weeks of kids’ swimming lessons in Ballan. The Community Bank Ballan Branch paid for the entire VICSWIM Summer Kidz Program this year, which ran from Monday to Friday during January 3 to January 21. The Bank also covered Council’s entry costs for participants and spectators, making the lessons completely free. “Without State Government support it’s $100 per week, but with State Government subsidisation it’s $35. Bendigo Bank’s support makes that even better,” VICSWIM CEO Kathy Parton told the Moorabool News. “The Summer Kidz Program makes swimming lessons SWIMMERS (L-R) Sophie, Daniel and Lilly participated affordable…for a lot of families the in the VicSwim program sponsored by the Ballan Program is the only swimming Community Bank. Photo – Helen Tatchell lessons children have each year, and the true costs of swimming lessons can be out of reach,” she said. “Ballan is the first and only Bendigo Bank branch to cover the full costs of the Program. We’re very grateful for that.” Volunteer Community Bank Ballan Board Director Barry Sims said swimming’s so important for children. “They’ve got to learn how to swim and if possible, without the added cost”, he said. The Summer Kidz Program has been going since 1976, and had 19,000 enrolments across 200 venues this year. However, 140 venues were affected by COVID this year, leaving around 4,000 kids unable to participate in planned lessons. The Community Bank Ballan Branch spent just under $3000 supporting this year’s program, and has invested over $1.09 million back into the community in its 10-year history of operation.