Retirement village seeks rate concession

Novacare Residents Committee member Frank Creagh said many of their residents were more than 80 years old and no longer had their driver’s licence.

Mr Creagh said limited public transport meant many of their residents were restricted to the village which had its own pool, men’s shed, library, bowling green, gym and other facilities.

In a letter, the residents requested a reduction in the rate which would be calculated two cents less than the current rate in each dollar.

City of Busselton officers said the basis of the request was that residents of the retirement village did not need to use some of the services provided by the city which were used by other ratepayers.

Under the Local Government Act, councils could grant a rate concession but would need an absolute majority vote in favour of the change.

A Local Government Department spokesperson said each local government had the ability to decide its own criteria for granting rate concessions and could not confirm if other councils had granted concessions to retirement villages.

City officers stated if the rate concession was granted by council, the residents would be paying $184 less than the minimum rate and $574 less than the average residential rate.

The officers said the minimum rate was usually applied to vacant blocks of land or to premises which had a low value.

It was noted by officers that the concept of a ratepayer does not use all the council’s facilities could apply to any number of residents for any reason.

If the council approve the rate reduction, officers said the level of works and services performed by the city would need to be reduced or rates would need to be increased to cover the shortfall.

City officers recommended that the application for a rate concession should be declined, which councillors will vote on at Wednesday’s meeting.

Have your say: Do you think the residents have a fair point? Why or why not? Email emma.kirk@fairfaxmedia.com.au.