Welcome to Break O’Day Council’s annual Rates Newsletter for the 2020 - 2021 Financial Year

About your rate charges for the 2020-2021 financial year

Rates account for over 50% of Council revenue and is a crucial factor when determining our annual budget and what projects we will be able to fund. We develop a long term financial plan to help us determine when and what projects will be funded to ensure we are looking to the future. Under normal circumstances, Council would slightly increase the cents in the $ for the General Rate charge to achieve a small revenue increase in line with our Long Term Financial Plan and meet increased operating costs. This means that ratepayers would generally see a small increase in rates.This financial year, due to the impact of COVID-19 on our

communities Council has adopted a 0% General Rate increase. However, you may notice that your rates have increased slightly, this is because we have had to increase Waste charges by 3%. You can read more about this below.The Fire levy has increased slightly for those properties in an Urban zone, with a slight decrease in the Rural zone. Although the fire levy contribution to be collected by Council on behalf of the Tasmanian Fire Service has not increased, changes in property valuations have an effect on the individual charges for each zone. The minimum levy remains at $41.00

Waste and Recycling Charges

At Break O’Day Council we understand that there are people in our community experiencing financial difficulty due to COVID-19 and we want to assure you that we will do all we can to assist. Below you will find information regarding changes to your

rates for the next financial year, Rates Hardship information and some of the projects your rates will be spent on during the 2020-2021 financial year.

There are a couple of reasons as to why we unfortunately, had to pass on an increase in waste charges to our ratepayers. These factors are outside our control and Councils around Australia are facing similar challenges. However, we have worked hard behind the scenes to ensure that this increase

was as minimal as possible.Both of our waste collection contracts were due to expire this June so we went out to tender earlier this year. The tenders we received back were not as competitive as we would have liked so we developed ways for cost savings.

Why has my Waste Collection charge increased by 3% ?

Recycling

General WasteThe tenders we received back for our general waste collection were not competitive and essentially saw the service costs double. Understanding that our community was already suffering due to the pandemic we did not want to pass these hefty costs on so we started looking for ways to develop a more financially sustainable and cost acceptable long-term alternative for our ratepayers.We found that if we took over the general waste collection service ourselves we could find longterm savings. To make this happen we have recently purchased two waste trucks, the main truck and a backup in case of breakdown at a total cost of $490,000. Both will be stationed in the local area and create employment opportunities.

There have been a couple of major factors that have seen recycling charges increase across the country and our area is no different.Charges for recycling services increased across the board due to the Chinese Recycling market. The Chinese, who take the majority of Australia’s recyclables have reduced their

acceptable contamination rates which means an increased cost to the local recycling collectors who now have to remove contamination before sending it to Asian markets. They have passed this cost on which has seen an increase in recycling charges for our municipality that equates to an increase of more than $145,0000 over 3 years, the life of our kerbside recycling service.Another factor that has seen increases in the plastic recycling sector is the fall in oil prices which has seen the production cost of plastics fall. This has made it cheaper to manufacture plastic than recycle it.We understand that a recycling service is very important to our community, just as it is important to Council so in order to continue the service we have had to increase our waste charges. We hope that over time, if we can all become better recyclers and reduce contamination in our recycle bins, that the costs to recycle will decrease, but this will only happen if our entire region can become better recyclers.

Introduction

Your Rates Explained:

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IntroductionHere at Council we understand that there are a number of businesses and community members who are doing it tough due to COVID-19. In an effort to alleviate financial stress around rate charges we introduced a Community Care Recovery Package.

COVID-19 Community Care and Recovery PackageINFRASTRUCTURE GOAL: To provide quality infrastructure which enhances the liveability and viability of our communities for residents and visitors.COMMUNITY GOAL: To strengthen our sense of community and lifestyle through opportunities for people to connect and feel valued.SERVICES GOAL: To have access to quality services that are responsive to the changing needs of the community and lead to improved health, education and employment outcomes.

Our Rates Hardship Assistance Policy provides ratepayers who are struggling to pay their rates at this time with three options with Council staff at the ready to help you through the application process, just give us a call on 63767900 or email admin@bodc.tas.gov.auThe three options are;• Allowing time for rates to be paid with no penalties,

interest or recovery action• Writing off of penalty or interest charges due to

late payments• In extreme hardship, writing off rates charged to

a property

Ratepayers wanting to apply for the Rates Hardship Assistance have to do this in writing and provide evidence of hardship. Completed forms and documentation can be hand delivered or posted to 32-34 Georges Bay Esplanade, St Helens 7216 or emailed to admin@bodc.tas.gov.au. We are here to help you do this so please give us a call if you are not sure what to do or want to talk about the other information you need to provide.

Rates Hardship Assistance Policy and Community Care Recovery Package

This package will provide 100% remission for the commercial general rate for a 6 month period which includes the first instalment of the 2020-21 Rates and will be provided to the following:• Accommodation• Hospitality (Restaurants, Cafes, Coffee Shops)• Retail, noting that some are of a mixed nature

which Council will assess on a case-by-case basis. (Excluding the following business types;)

• Supermarkets • Bottle Shops • Butchers • Chemists • Newsagents • Petrol stations • Banks • Post Offices • Hardware stores

We will also:• Waive fees for the annual registration of Food Premises

for a period of 6 months up until 1 January 2021• Waive lease fees for commercial premises leased from

Council by a private operator for a 6month period from 1 April

You can find out more about the Community Care and Recovery Package on our website under My Community.

Community Care and Recovery Package

Pictured above: A local family enjoys a mountain bike ride along the multi-user track.

For more information on the Community Care and Recovery

Package visit

www.bodc.tas.gov.au/covid-19information/

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Major Council Project for 2020-2021Break O’Day has received $1million in funding from the Federal Government as part of the Drought Communities Fund to be spent in the 20-21 Financial Year.Council has developed a comprehensive list of shovel ready projects based in the Fingal Valley for this funding which is focussed on enhancing the life of the residents of the Fingal Valley whilst building on earlier work which, focussed on encouraging visitors to stop and enjoy the wonderful natural attractions that are largely unknown or inaccessible in the area. There are five main areas we will address with funding through the Drought Communities Programme - Extension including:

1. The Fingal Valley Walking Track Project $139,500 (Continuation) including: • Mathinna Falls (Mathinna), the completion of track

works, including the re-gravelling of eroded track, repairs to failed track segments. Note: The project was 80% completed under DCP Round 1.

• St Patricks Head (St Marys), track rock works – remediation of current track segments.

• St Marys Rivulet – Upgrade of existing walking track• New Mathinna Recreation Ground Track

2. Fingal Valley Cemetery upgrades for Mathinna and Fingal, ($150,000) Which aims to:• Increase accessibility or improve access to the cemetery• Beautify the cemetery in general• Highlight historical significance of forefathers.

3. Enhancing our Community Building Projects including:• Scamander Surf Life Saving Club – Amenities Fit out

($19,745)• Old Tasmania Hotel Lift Installation – ($213,000)• St Marys Recreation Ground improvements –($200,000)• St Marys Community Space – ($35,000)

4. Upgrading township infrastructure including:• Mathinna Streetscape improvements - $208,035• Cornwall Gravel Road sealing - $75,100• Alexander St Cornwall road works - $61,950

5. Preparation of a Drought Preparedness Plan ($10,000)

Drought Communities Fund

Pictured above: Track workers undertaking works at Gray Mares Trail walk as part of Round 1 of the Drought Community Fund.

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Late last year, Break O’Day Council received $2.1 million to extend the Georges Bay Multi-user track through the Federal Government’s Community Development Fund.The project will see the construction of a boardwalk and track at the bottom of Lawry Heights and a purpose built

bridge that will sit alongside the Golden Fleece bridge. Once completed this project will allow users of the track to ride/walk from Lions Park all the way to the wharf off the road and will essentially complete the user track.

Major Council Project for 2020-2021Georges Bay Multi-User Track Extension

Other areas of major capital expenditure spread across the municipality include:Footpaths $233,500Including: Akaroa - $13,000, Binalong Bay - $33,000 and Scamander $60,000

Resheeting of Gravel Roads $364,260Including around $100,000 for Ansons Bay Road North and Ansons Bay Road, Priory

Resealing of roads $378,900This includes more than $200,000 of work on the Upper Esk road alone.

Kerb and Channel - $190,000Including St Helens Point Road - $150,000 and Atlas Drive $40,000

Other items:

Street Furniture and Signage $20,000

Playground Equipment - $70,000

Resheeting Airport runway - $100,000

Pyengana Recreation Ground - $40,000

Pictured above: A couple of locals enjoying the Georges Bay Multi-User track at Beauty Bay

Pictured below, Road sealing on St Helens Point Road, St Helens.

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