Gunnedah Shire Council made the decision to freeze upcoming increases to certain charges during the proposed rate rise implementation period.

Councillors were split heavily on a decision at December’s ordinary meeting as to whether to alleviate increases in sewerage, domestic waste and water charges for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial periods.

Council has the ability to decide what the prices should be on waste, water and sewerage yearly.

Council staff brought figures about the estimated impact if sewerage, domestic waste and water charges were frozen or limited.

It was not recommended by council staff to consider a freeze on water charges with a predicted future need to spend money on water infrastructure.

Cr Rob Hoddle stated the two other reserves were in a healthy state.

“I think it is a very good idea to give the relief to the community where we can and both of those accounts are very healthy and will remain so,” he said.

Cr Hoddle suggested that the freeze be put into place on sewerage and domestic waste, seconded by Kate Cr McGrath.

Cr Cameron Moore added a change that it will only take effect if the rate increase was approved by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

This motion was eventually carried but not without debate.

Cr Juliana McArthur wanted the freeze to be considered until IPART confirmed the rate rise so staff could provide options for freezing the charges.

She pointed out that the proposed rate rise was because of a projected deficit.

“In three years time we are going back out to the community because we have a projected higher deficit in our restricted assets,” she said.

Cr Rob Hooke was concerned that if rises for sewerage, domestic waste and water categories were frozen, the council would be set back “$3.9 million” in revenue.

Director Corporate Services Kelly Stidworthy clarified for the councillors that without the water charges that number would be $3.1 million.

The impact of the water category alone would be about $785,000.

Cr Hooke put forward an amendment to not freeze those charges, seconded by Cr Ann Luke.

He was worried the councillors were trying to “make [themselves] feel better” with minor relief for the ratepayers.

While he sympathised, he was worried the council would have to raise charges in the future to make up for the freeze which would end up “hurting more”.

The amendment was lost.

Cr Hoddle stood his ground, with him and Cr Kate McGrath mentioning there was discussion about hopefully holding back the increases on the service charges when the proposed Special Rate Variation was introduced.

Cr Tammey McAllan was concerned that the information about the frozen charges was not given at an earlier date.

Ms Stidworthy stated that time was related to this, with the notice of motion being placed at the November meeting.

To order photos from this page click here