ICYMI, Council staff have crafted a draft budget, and it’s on exhibition! If it’s approved, without any tinkering by our well informed and good looking councillor majority, it will see waste removal rates raised by around 17 per cent.
Also, the cost for amending a large development approval (DA) could also see large increases of up to 300 per cent, depending on what stage the DA is at and what type it is.
A quick glance at the fees and charges document demonstrates how governed Australian society is.
From sending your child to a Council-run After School and Vacation Care Facility (those fees would rise under this budget), to being buried at a Council-run cemetery (those fees are also set to rise around 3.5 per cent), there are a lot of fees and charges in-between.
Renting a holiday cabin at First Sun Holiday Park would cost only a little more under this proposal, while pay parking in the bay would rise a modest $1 to $5 per hour.
Justification for the increase in waste disposal (page 7) is owing to ‘external costs such as the Qld waste levy, transport (fuel) and organics processing’.
On page 77, all of the services and costs of the Byron Resource Recovery Centre are tabled, with the cost to dispose green waste, recyclables, metal and tyres and gassed appliances like fridges and aircon units set to rise.
The biggest hike proposals in the draft budget appear to be for amending a large development application (DA). That info is found on page 109.
The cost for, ‘Minor Amendment (Single site and not requiring specialist review of supporting studies) – Stage 2 Pre-Gateway’ would rise from $4,000 to $13,000 (225 per cent). A ‘Minor Amendment (Single site and not requiring specialist review of supporting studies) – Stage 3 Post-Gateway’ would rise from $2,000 to $7,000 (250 per cent). A ‘Major Amendment (Multiple sites and/or requiring specialist review of supporting studies) – Stage 1 Pre-lodgement Meeting and Report’ would rise from $7,000 to $10,000 (42.86 per cent). A ‘Major Amendment (Multiple sites and/or requiring specialist review of supporting studies) – Stage 2 Pre-Gateway would rise from $10,000 to $35,000 (250 per cent).
And a ‘Major Amendment (Multiple sites and/or requiring specialist review of supporting studies) – Stage 3 Post-Gateway’ would rise from $5,000 to $20,000 (300 per cent).
Submitting a DA ‘not involving the erection of a building, carrying out of work or subdivision of land’ would rise from $285 to $333, while a DA ‘consisting of the erection of a dwelling house when estimated cost of construction is $100,000 or less’ will rise from $455 to $532. The cost of ‘Erection of a building or other works with estimated cost up to $5,000’ remains $110.
The good news is that hall hire and sports ground use is not pegged for an increase, although costs for some Cavanbah Centre activities will rise.
The fees and charges document can be found within the five documents of the Draft Delivery Program 2022–26 and Operational Plan 2022–23. They are available on Council’s website: www.yoursaybyronshire.com.au/dpop. Feedback is open until June 10.
Byron Council may have put on a bit of weight around the middle and in managing the middle thay have called on middle management and have set a budget on waste removal. That budget is yet to be regergitated and passed in council but come to pass it could be passed. It is going to take a bit of removing, and it is going to be expensive. The budget is on exhibition and to bufge it, it will take quite a lift. A bit of muscle is required. Council is calling on a 17 percent lift in charges. Heavy yes? But we can do it.