Ballina Shire Council has had its application for a rate rise approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) but it rejected a request for the rise to be permanent.
The funds raised will have to be to spent on infrastructure, such as roads, stormwater drains, playground equipment and sports ground facilities.
The rate rise will also fund a Healthy Waterways Program.
Acting general manager, Rod Willis told Echonetdaily the council had applied for a special rate variation to be implemented over three years, with a 4.9 per cent permanent increase in 2017/18, a 5.9 per cent permanent increase in 2018/19 and a 5.9 per cent permanent increase in 2019/20.
‘But IPART have approved only a temporary special rate variation for 2017/18,’ Mr Willis said.
‘The additional revenue generated from the proposal will be spent on asset renewal, such as road construction works, stormwater and drainage, replacement of playground equipment and sports ground facilities,’ he said.
‘It will also fund a Healthy Waterways Program to address issues in the Shire’s key water bodies like the Richmond River, Lake Ainsworth and Shaws Bay,’ he added.
Mr Willis said the rate rise would be ‘distributed across all ratepayers in the Ballina Shire, and the amount that individuals pay [will be] determined by their land value.’
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