Port Stephens Council has extended the consultation period on the proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) to give our community more time to have their say. Submissions may now be made until Friday 31 August 2018. Alternately, you may be contacted by Micromex Research and Consulting as part of a telephone survey to seek further feedback on the proposal. Have your say: Visithaveyoursay.portstephens.nsw.gov.au/srv Emailsrv@portstephens.nsw.gov.au quoting PSC 2018-02118 Write PSC 2018-02118, General Manager Port Stephens Council,
PO Box 42, RAYMOND TERRACE, NSW 2324
Why we need to invest in our community
Port Stephens is a place that I am proud to call home. But more than that, it’s a place where I want to make a real difference. After a year as the Mayor of this beautiful part of the world, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many of our community and talk about what’s really important to them.
The message our community keeps telling me - loud and clear - is that they want more. More footpaths and cycleways, better roads, rejuvenated town centres, more playing fields, more jobs and more business.
Over the last decade, Port Stephens Council has driven real efficiencies and is one of the few councils of its size running a modest surplus. As a result, Council has managed to keep our residential rates amongst the lowest in the Hunter. But in order to deliver what our community is telling us they want, we need to explore other funding options.
In late July this year, we commenced an extensive community consultation process to seek feedback on a proposed rate increase, known as a Special Rate Variation (SRV). Proposing to increase rates is not something this Council takes lightly. We appreciate the financial impacts that some will feel.
However, what we’re proposing is to plan a better future for everyone who calls Port Stephens home, for the longer term. Our residents want projects that invest in our local communities – like $36m to revitalise town centres, $56m to improve our road network, $16m on better drainage and $9.5m for sport and recreation facilities to name a few.
It’s important to make clear that this proposal doesn’t mean drastically increasing rates next year. Rather, what we’re talking about is smaller, more affordable increases over a seven year period.
In the first year, under the most expensive proposed option, an average ratepayer in Port Stephens would pay about $1.70 a week extra in their rates. At the end of the seven year period, in 2025, the total increase will equate to about $15 per week. Importantly, nearly $4 of this would be payable anyway as part of our normal annual rate peg increase.
We believe the investments we are proposing are vital, will leave a lasting legacy, and see Port Stephens continue to be a place many want to live, work and play. We have a unique opportunity to shape and deliver the future of Port Stephens for generations to come, and it’s time for our residents to have their say.
Port Stephens Council first in region to trial new Greencrete
Port Stephens Council is leading the way locally in the Hunter’s war on waste, with the introduction of new Greencrete officially being trialled for use at Tanilba Bay.
Greencrete looks and performs the same as normal concrete, however, it reuses recycled glass in place of quarried sand and gravel materials to reduce waste.
The Lions Club of Soldiers Point have generously donated $12,000 towards the revitalisation of Bob Cairns Reserve, which will be used to fund much needed upgrades to the park and its amenities. “This generous donation will help fund the renewal of the park which is already underway. The works include new accessible amenities, new picnic tables and shelters, and dune fencing and landscaping improvements," Mayor Ryan Palmer said.
Supporting our farmers The Port Stephens community is rallying together to help Australia's drought-affected farmers. Here are just some of the events and campaigns that you can support in the Port Stephens area.
Port Stephens Council has thrown its support behind the campaign to Renew Our Libraries, which aims to recognise the vital role libraries play in our communities and ensure they are funded sustainably. NSW public libraries are struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for their services and library funding is at a crisis point. This has been compounded by the 2018 Budget, in which the NSW Government made an additional cut of 5% to recurrent public library funding.
Council meeting - Tuesday 14 August The following is a brief overview of this week's Council meeting. For full details, you can view the agenda and minutes on Council's website.
Council deferred a decision on a DA for dual occupancy and one into two lot Torrens title subdivision at 124 Government Road, Nelson Bay to await consideration by the Local Traffic Committee.
Council approved DA for a Commercial Premises (two storey comprising four tenancies) and associated car parking and landscaping at 4 Central Ave, Salamander Bay (previously 155 Salamander Way, Salamander Bay).
Council endorsed the Draft Raymond Terrace Flying-fox Camp Management Plan and placed it on public exhibition.
Council endorsed the Draft Parking Enforcement Policy and placed it on public exhibition.
Council endorsed the Draft Tree Vandalism Policy and placed it on public exhibition.
Council adopted the Access to Information Policy.
Council endorsed the revised Complaint Handling Policy and placed it on public exhibition.
Council endorsed the Managing Unreasonable Complainant Policy and places it on public exhibition.
Council endorsed the attendance of Mayor Palmer and General Manager to the 2018 Sister Cities Mayoral Summit in Bellingham USA from 4-6 December 2018.
Council supported an amended NOM from Cr Arnott, supporting the “Renew our Libraries” campaign and will write to the Premier and Opposition Leader highlighting the need for increased Public Libraries funding.
