The budget, which sees the introduction of a new waste collection service and increases in the waste management fees paid by ratepayers, was adopted at the June council meeting last Wednesday.

Waste collection fees have risen from $234 to $306.40 in the town boundary area, while rural ratepayers receiving the new service will now pay $286.

Council received only one written submission on the management plan and budget, which was on public exhibition for almost a month.

That letter had among its concerns, the increases in various council fees and charges and also questioned council’s previous decision to extend town water services to Barrington.

Council’s new garbage service, which will include a green waste collection in the town areas, and an extended roadside collection service in a number of rural areas of the shire has been widely accepted in the shire, with council receiving little comment on the changes.

Council has received one letter specifically addressing the new service, which was a letter of congratulations on the negotiations with the Department of Conservation and Climate Change and the significant savings achieved for ratepayers associated with the changes to waste management. Agreement with the department resulted in the waste charges being dropped from $514 to the now adopted $306.40 fee.

Gloucester Shire Council has budgeted for a minor surplus of just $1,328 in the 2009-2010 financial year.