"NO other option." That is the view of councillor Brad Christensen on Greater Taree City Council's proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) of six per cent over six years.
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Cr Christensen wants the community to understand the SRV, to understand the regions roads infrastructure and the realities of repair and maintenance with its current revenue sources.
This week he has been with council's senior staff at the SRV pop-up shopfront in Manning Street, talking with people about the proposal and active on social media trying to get factual information into the community conversation about the controversial proposed rate increase.
Today (Friday) is the last day of the pop-up shopfront and Cr Christensen is urging people of "this wonderful region to get as much knowledge, as many facts as possible about our council, how it works and some of the comparisons with other local councils." Adding that "if you can't make it to the pop-up shopfront please jump on the council website and have a look at the information posted."
Cr Christensen says he is understanding of community opposition to the proposed SRV and says "there isn't one individual involved with council who wants a rate rise but this is what we have been left with - no other options."
"I appreciate the thoughts of locals and the perception they have of council but I can guarantee this council has made great changes over the last few years and we continue to improve in all areas," Cr Christensen said. "If we do not work together now as a community we won't have to worry about our economy because we won't have anything or anyone in this region in 20 years time," he said.
"We also have no other option as we have tried everything else.
"Our roads are such a huge part of our sustainability, our future, our agricultural industry, our tourism - everything that we rely on all reflects back to our road network."
Cr Christensen says the community can be assured that revenue raised from the SRV will be spent on roads.
"All expenditures of any SRV are reported and on the GTCC website for all to see - 100 per cent of any SRV will be spent on roads and maintenance," he said.
Cr Christensen says that "in this day and age you don't have an excuse to not be informed."
"If you can't get your information from the website, just contact a councillor and ask them; we are here to assist you and to put this special place back to where it should be in the minds of not only locals, but visitors," Cr Christensen added.
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