MidCoast ‘SuperCouncil’ could find itself in need of some superhuman help if a budgetary solution to its finances doesn’t present itself soon.
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The new body is eligible for $15 million from the Stronger Communities fund and $5 million from the New Council Implementation fund. But when interim general manager Glenn Handford was asked if the new council would have enough to do what was required to be a Fit for the Future council, he was unequivocal.
“No.”
"We are working to set up the new MidCoast Council for success and in order to do that we need to begin to address the infrastructure backlog of the new council. We are currently negotiating with the NSW Government to see if we can vary rates and have a rate rise before the four year period expires," Mr Handford said.
But the state member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead said the four-year rate freeze “decision demonstrates the government’s policy in action of residents of new councils paying no more for their rates than they would have under their old council for four years.
“The independent delegate was very clear in his report that the merging of the three former councils to create the new, stronger MidCoast Council would provide greater scale and capacity,” he said.
Not mentioned was delegate Dr Ian Tiley’s recommendation that prior special rate variation (SRV) requests from Greater Taree and Great Lakes councils be approved to ensure financial viability in the face of a 20 per cent infrastructure backlog.
This would include NRMA’s cited road maintenance shortfall in Gloucester of $167,000, Taree’s $2,350,000 shortfall and the $50,000 Great Lakes is left ahead with.
The NSW Government requires the 2015-2016 rating structure to be appliced in each former area for 2016-2017, but Council will work towards a 2017-18 operational plan with a single plan, budget, fees and charges.
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