RESIDENTS would not enjoy many of Frankston’s latest recreation facilities and services if the state government’s rates capping policy had been in force over the previous five years, according to Frankston Council.
The Labor state government is pushed ahead with its pre-election pledge to cap future annual council rate rises across Victoria at the rate of inflation and tabled legislation in Parliament last week to implement its policy, dubbed the Fair Go Rates cap by the government, with effect from the 2016-17 financial year.
Frankston mayor Cr Sandra Mayer criticised the imminent rates cap.
“We would like the entire community to take a moment to think about where we would be now – if rate-capping was introduced five years ago,” she said.
“The experience of living in Frankston City would be completely different.
“If you wanted to take a swim at the Peninsula Aquatic and Recreation Centre, you couldn’t – as it wouldn’t exist. Frankston Park would not have a new function centre. Residents would still have to drive to Mornington to dispose of recycling, hard and green waste – as the Frankston Regional Recycling and Recovery Centre would not have recently opened.”
The mayor said there would also not be as many school crossing supervisors, Frankston Library would not stock the latest new release books and “council would be scrambling to keep up with the required maintenance of community buildings and roads”.
“Many council services would be starkly cut back or discontinued,” Cr Mayer said.
Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins says capping rate rises will give ratepayers greater value for money and councils will still be able to provide essential services and facilities to their communities.
“Our Fair Go Rates system will give communities a say and make councils listen.”
The Labor state government has crunched the rate rise numbers for councils across Victoria to reveal ratepayers faced an average rates rise of 5.99 per cent for each of the past ten years.
Frankston Council’s rates have risen an average of 6.3 per cent over the past decade.
Neighbouring Mornington Peninsula Shire and Kingston Council’s rates have risen 6.4 per cent and 6.6 per cent respectively on average over the same period.
“With an average six per cent rate rise every year for the past decade, it’s clear we need greater accountability for councils and greater value for money for local residents – and that’s what our Fair Go Rates system will deliver,” Ms Hutchins said.
Labor’s traditional comrades in the union movement have also criticised the state government’s rate capping policy.
The Australian Services Union, the union for local government employees, has accused Premier Daniel Andrews and his government of creating “policy on the run” ahead of last year’s state election.
“We wonder what the government will do to stop councils from running down infrastructure, cutting services and slashing jobs,” ASU branch secretary Richard Duffy said in a statement released last week.
“A ‘monitoring’ regime may detect these events after they occur, but the Andrews government is silent about what it will do to ensure councils correct their ways when these things do take place.”
Mr Duffy called the rates cap plan “a dog’s breakfast”.
“A vote for the government’s rate cap policy in the Parliament is a vote for cuts to local infrastructure, services and jobs. It is certainly not a vote for addressing cost of living pressures, or council accountability, or executive pay, or ending ‘council rorts’, which government spin-doctors would have us believe.
The ASU is calling on Parliament to “reject this idiotic policy”.
Cr Mayer said “council has deep connections with the community”.
“We provide services for all ages, from maternal and child health through to meals on wheels and positive ageing programs.
“We manage dangerous animals, maintain your local parks, footpaths and roads, empty your bins, run school programs, provide immunisation services, community centres, arts performances and business workshops – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
