‘Rates up, services down’

Less than 24 hours after Barry Sammels explained the City’s latest rate increase to a crowd of more than 100 community members — many who work for free — the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal recommended the Rockingham Mayor be given a 75 per cent pay rise.

While the leaders of two local resident groups support the increase in salary for elected members, they have spoken out in frustration about the City’s proposed rate increase of 7.6 per cent.

Secret Harbour Resident’s Association vice-president Guy Bennett said the suburb was not getting sufficient return for the constant rate increase.

“The rates go up every single year, infrastructure stays the same, services go down and the decision making doesn’t improve,” he said.

Mr Bennett claimed in the six years he had lived in the suburb, the only new infrastructure Secret Harbour received was one new public toilet block.

He said although construction of the new surf club was under way, it was a district level development.

Singleton Residents’ Association president Margaret Tysoe claimed the City’s southern suburbs were the “forgotten suburbs of Rockingham”.

“They got a little bit more assistance when we had our new councillor elected initially, but we would be concerned about people on fixed incomes,” she said.

“The council increases its rates five years in a row, there’s a major employer in the area, and I’m sure there are others that have frozen wage increases for the last three years.

“Eventually the purse becomes empty. They’ve not had a rate increase in the wage in the past five years, but council keeps putting the rates up.

“Eventually these people are going to be without a home and they’re going to be a burden on the charities and the State.”

Last Wednesday, Cr Sammels told the audience at a civic reception, to thank community groups and volunteers for their contribution to the community over the past year, the rate increase was necessary.

“I know they’re never popular (but) they’re there to meet the expectations of the City,” he told the crowd. “On top of that we need to maintain our existing assets.”

Cr Sammels said although it was no consolation, the City’s rate increase last year was the second lowest compared to 30 other metropolitan councils. He said the City had already reviewed, and implemented strategies, to reduce expenditure.

The council will decide whether to rubber-stamp the rate increase at this week’s meeting.