As part MidCoast Council’s (MCC) move towards harmonising payment options across the three regions, Greater Taree, Great Lakes and Gloucester, the topic of rate payments in now on focus.

Gloucester residents have been able to make their annual and quarterly payment via the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) branch on Church Street.

Of the three regions, Gloucester is the only community to have this option, therefore, as part of the merger, this option will be changing.

As council rate notices are due to reach residents sometime this week, council is notifying ratepayers that the CBA payment options will cease and the remaining over the counter options will be the post office on Queen Street or the council office on King Street. Mail, internet and phone payment options are also available.

Changes to look for:

Council has rolled out electronic rates in the Gloucester region, joining the thousands of other MCC ratepayers who enjoy the convenience of having their rate notices delivered to their email in-box.

“These changes come into effect from when you receive your rate notice later this month – but don’t worry, we are working with staff at your local CBA branch who will be on hand to help you sign up for one of the other convenient ways to pay your rates moving forward,” a MCC spokesperson said.

The announcement about payment changes comes on the back of MCC’s announcement from Friday (July 21) about IPART approving a special rate variation (SRV) for the region.

The IPART determination provides for an approved cumulative increase of 27.3 per cent over four years including the annual rate peg. 

The SRV is effective from July 1 with a 10 per cent increase in the first year which includes a region-wide environmental levy. 

It continues with a further five per cent annual increase for the following three years. 

This approval replaces special variations that were in place in each of the three previous local government areas for 2017/18 - Gloucester Shire (13 per cent), and environmental levies for Great Lakes (six per cent) and Greater Taree (five per cent).

“This is a significant and positive step forward, and comes as a result of working closely with the government and our community to develop a strategy for addressing the long-standing underfunding of assets,” Glenn Handford, council’s general manager, said.

The average residential rate across the MidCoast region will increase by $67 in 2017/18, equating to $1.28 per week.

With roads and bridges representing 76 per cent of the total value of MCC’s $3.3 billion asset base (excluding water services assets), they have remained an on-going challenge, Mr Handford said. 

The SRV will allow council to fund an identified $5 million annual shortfall in renewal funding for roads, and start to reduce the asset backlog estimated at $180 million.

“As a result of the SRV being introduced, our community will see a marked improvement in the condition of local roads and bridges,” Mr Handford said. 

“High-use assets will be worked into our road funding program as a priority, and an increase in our renewal program will assist in maximising the life of our roads, preventing the ongoing decline of our transport network.”

MCC will continue to engage with the community regarding the road funding program and environmental action plan, including progress reporting as tangible works and improvements are made as a result of the SRV.