YARRA Ranges residents are likely to face higher council rates

Almost ‘nothing’ for NSPs

10 May 10 @ 07:25am by Kimberley Seedy

YARRA Ranges residents are likely to face higher council rates after a State Government funding shortfall on the cost of Neighbourhood Safer Places.

Yarra Ranges Shire Mayor Len Cox has criticised the Government for allocating just $500,000 in the State Budget to help councils pay for the maintenance of NSPs.

Cr Cox said the cost of the bushfires, in both preparation and recovery, would affect residents’ rates.

The funding will be shared Victoria-wide and Cr Cox said it would equate to “next to nothing” for Yarra Ranges.

Cr Cox said the Budget also did little to address the issue of cost shifting.

He said there had been a trend among state and federal governments to shift the cost burden of programs to local government.

These included the 233 per cent increase in the landfill levy, the significant extra costs of bushfire preparation works, and the need to respond to the recommendations of the Bushfires Royal Commission.

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) expressed its disappointment with the lack of funding for councils.

MAV president Cr Bill McArthur agreed there was a growing funding gap in areas of shared state-local government responsibility.

Cr McArthur said of critical concern was the cost of maintenance of vegetation around NSPs to meet strict radiant heat and defendable space criteria, after the winter growth, which is estimated to be as high as $40,000 a site in some rural areas.

There are six designated NSPs in the shire.

Liberal spokeswoman on local government Jeanette Powell said NSPs were the State Government’s responsibility but it had shifted it on to councils. She said the MAV had estimated councils would need a total of $12 million for NSPs.

Member for Monbulk James Merlino said the act clearly stated that NSPs were a local government responsibility.