MidCoast Water - the region's water and sewerage utility - voted this week to allow its six delegates from the two councils the maximum fee allowable under the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal fee structure.

The tribunal had earlier determined that a 2.5 per cent increase in fees was allowable for the 2009-10 financial year, meaning councillors were entitled to between $1400 (minimum) and $7750 (maximum) each per year.

MidCoast adopted the maximum fee of $7750, while also setting the additional fee for its chairperson at the maximum allowable of $12,730.

This means that MidCoast's current chairman, Cr Eddie Loftus of Greater Taree, earns $20,480 for his work with MidCoast Water this year, which is in addition to the fee he receives for being a Greater Taree City councillor.

Greater Taree City Council, in its recently adopted management plan, also went with the maximum allowable increase in its councillors' renumeration.

Its nine councillors will each be paid $15,120 in this financial year, with mayor Paul Hogan earning an additional $33,009.96 as the mayor.

Councillors' remuneration is paid monthly, in arrears.