They were the words spoken by Greater Taree City councillor Trent Jennison that summarised as well as any an emotive January council meeting where the Special Rate Variation application was overwhelmingly voted in, seven votes to two.

The contentious issue ensured that every councillor had their say in a marathon debate that lasted for more than an hour before going to vote.

Mayor Paul Hogan was the first to speak on the issue, saying that it was time for the current council to take action on the matter unlike previous councils.

"I take no pleasure in raising rates and I take my role of mayor very seriously," he said.

"But I can not leave an insurmountable burden for future generations, nor can I stand by and let our local roads become a barrier to economic prosperity to this beautiful valley."

Cr Peter Epov, who along with Cr Kathryn Bell has been a vocal critic of the proposed rise, was the first to speak against it.

Again Cr Epov took aim at the process of community consultation taken, saying that much of the community doesn't "either understand the scope of the works or the quantum of the rate rise."

Cr Epov, who enjoyed the support of several boisterous members of the crowd, said the rise "is a cosmetic band-aid solution that won't solve the problems we have".

Cr David Keegan said though that the "unpopular choice" of raising rates was the only solution to the roads crisis in the Greater Taree area.

"People are crying out for better roads," Cr Keegan said.

In regards to funding, Cr Keegan said Greater Taree had "one of the lowest staffing levels in the State and one of the most efficient staffs in the State."

Cr Keegan said the funds had to come from somewhere.

"You can't say you're not going to raise rates but promise to fix roads," Cr Keegan said.

It was a view echoed by Cr Jennison.

"The simple, pure fact of what we are facing is an infrastructure backlog that will never, ever be fixed," Cr Jennison said.

Cr Jennison was one of the few councillors not to declare their position on the SRV prior to the meeting.

He outlined the issues council faced in getting funding from State and federal levels, saying that, with the Australian economy in "freefall", it was increasingly difficult to secure any meaningful funding.

"We have to do it ourselves," he said.

However Cr Bell said the rises were still not representative of what the community wanted.

"Whether or not I'm being accused of being negative or populist, the statement about community support being statistically representative is entirely incorrect," Cr Bell said.

Cr Bell said the community should have been better canvassed on whether they could afford the rises and said that a rise in the cost of living would hit property owners across the Manning.

Cr Tickle rebutted, echoing Cr Hogan's statement in the December meeting that councillors were continually being negative towards a road solution.

"What is your solution?" Cr Tickle asked.

"You are leaving a compounding problem because you are taking a popular view, but you do not have a solution."

Cr Tickle highlighted that the proposed SRV would be lower then what the Port Macquarie Hastings currently had proposed in their Fit for the Future submission.

Cr Robyn Jenkins said it was "most difficult decision that's faced me in my three and a half years on council."

"While I acknowledge Cr Epov and Cr Bell's concerns about flaws in the process I'm left with the feeling that even if we had three years consultation, the bottom line is we have to increase rates," Cr Jenkins said.

"If we're going to get the Manning Valley out of the situation it's in, we have to raise rates.

"We have to bite the bullet."

The final vote saw Crs Hogan, Christensen, Jenkins, Tickle, Keegan, West and Jennison in favour of the application.

Crs Epov and Bell voted against it.

After the vote Cr Jenkins attempted to move a motion that councillor allowances be frozen for the term of the SRV.

Concerns were raised about imposing the motion on future councils before it was overruled by Cr Hogan.

The SRV application will now be submitted to IPART by February 15.

If accepted, it will then be calculated into the council budget which will be voted on in June 2016.

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