Murrray River Council has addressed concerns about what its ratepayers are calling a massive rate hike.
General rates and fees have increased by 4.7 per cent, in line with the IPART recommendation.
But some other fees and charges have caught some ratepayers off guard.
One residents may not recognise from their 2023/24 rates notices is a vacant property.
Although council says this fee has historically been charged in Murray River, it was not charged last financial year.
“Most of the time it’s where there is an unconstructed piece of land,” Murray River Council corporate services director Stephen Fernando said.
“It could also apply to a property where there is a dwelling, but they are not using a bin.
“That charge has been there for a long time. Due to a technical complication, last year we didn’t charge that fee. If you go back beyond last year, it has always been in our rates notice.”
The landfill rehabilitation charge is a another new fee for ratepayers. It is a $75 charge for 2024/25.
This covers the cost of maintenance for past and current landfill sites, including the process of ‘capping’ waste.
“Basically, it’s putting a thick layer of specialised clay on top (of landfill) and preparing a cover,” Mr Fernando said.
“The objective is to stop the water going through that cover, like putting a cap on it.
“When the water going into the garbage that causes a lot of chemical reaction ... the water can be contaminated with what’s in the landfill, and that contaminated water then flows into the groundwater and into our rivers.
“That landfill rehabilitation charge goes to a special fund and is only used to do work, as required by law, to rehabilitate and maintain those landfills.”
Across the board, fees have increased for services like sewage and water.
This can be partly put down to Federal Government regulations that require councils to cover the full cost of water and sewage from their respective charges.
These fees help to staff and operate the treatment plants, maintain water networks and water storage facilities and sewerage services.
Council has been subsidising these costs from its general fund in recent years, but Mr Fernando said it was not sustainable.
“Up to last year, our water and sewer charges were not fully covering the cost of doing those businesses. So we’ve had to put them up.
“Over about three years we are pushing the rates that we charge for water and sewer to enable us to cover the full cost of running those two businesses.”
Once the shortfall is met, council anticipates future increases will be inline with inflation.
Council has also confirmed it will continue investigating a rate rise above the IPART recommendation in future years.
It is seeking permission to implement a special rate variation starting in the 2026/2027 financial year.
The application must be submitted by February 2025, and must be approved by IPART before it can be implemented. The approvals process includes community consultation.
It approved, it will be applied to general rates only, and not other fees and charges.
In the meantime, anyone concerned about their 2024/2025 rates can speak with council about payment plans and potential concessions. Call 1300 087 004 or email admin@murrayriver.nsw.gov.au.
Council’s hardship policy can be accessed at the Murray River Council website.