Council rates up by nearly 6%

A DRAFT budget with a 5.85% rates increase will be put to councillors at a special meeting of the Derwent Valley Council tomorrow night. Mayor Martyn Evans said the proposed budget was a comprehensive and financially responsible document.

Cr Evans said the draft budget included $5.7 million for capital works including more than $2 million for flood repairs.  Also in the draft budget is:

• $360,000 for the reconstruction of Third Avenue, New Norfolk
• $250,000 for the reconstruction of Blair St/Grey St, New Norfolk
• $90,000 for the reconstruction of Sixth Ave, New Norfolk
• $125,000 for unspecified security cameras
• $60,000 for security improvements at the council chambers and depot
• $125,000 for a public toilet at Bushy Park
• $80,000 towards Natural Resource Management 
• $72,000 to further upgrade Public Toilets outside the council chambers
• $40,000 for widening works on Glen Dhu Rd
• $5500 for family-friendly change rooms at New Norfolk Swimming pool
• $28,500 for improvements at the New Norfolk Swimming Pool
• $55,000 for the High St Market 
• $165,000 for new information technology in the council chambers
• $46,000 to extend the Malbina cemetery

Council officers will also propose increasing the waste management levy from $56 to $85. Cr Evans said the levy was a contribution towards the future rehabilitation costs of the Peppermint Hill landfill site and the construction of a transfer station. "Council will now have $1 million of the current estimate of $2 million required for these future expenses," he said. The increase in this charge will see the council collect almost as much in this third year of the levy as was collected in the first two years combined.

Flooding in May 2018 impacted Molesworth, Lachlan, Plenty, Sorell Creek and New Norfolk, including damage to council bridges, roads and parks. "Council crews have worked to rectify and reopen footpaths, Tynwald Park, roads and some bridges however there were some infrastructure that will still require replacement," Cr Evans said.

The council's budget meeting will be held in the New Norfolk Courthouse at 6pm tomorrow (Thursday). The budget documents can be downloaded here.