With the deadline for submission to the NSW Government yesterday, June 30, the pressure was on.

But Councillors Gary Carter and Gordon Manning were having none of it, voting against both the Fit for the Future final draft and its central plank, the long term financial plan, with its prognosis for the shire up to 2024/25.

Both argued the proposed financial model, which includes a permanent six per cent rate special rate variation (inclusive of the annual rate peg), would put too much strain on the shire’s low income earners.

Cr Manning said he did not agree the criteria of the submission required anything like the amount of work council staff had (purportedly) done.

“I don’t accept this is such as huge thing – it’s not such a big job to work out a few ratios,” Cr Manning said.

“To me this has been ‘yippee! Let’s have a rate rise’.

“I thank goodness for the 30 years of rate pegging … this (NSW Government) process simply gives councils more rope. I can’t support anything that makes a six per cent rate rise a fait accompli.”

Cr Carter said savings could be made in other ways such as selling assets and relying less on external consultants.

“If we need a rate rise to be fit, then maybe we are not fit … other councils are saying no and deciding to be ‘unfit’,” Cr Carter said.

On the other side of the argument, Cr Steve Klipin said he supported the submission.

“My role here is one of governance - it is important to “deal ourselves into the game,” Cr Klipin said.

“To suggest we are unfit deals us out … I accept this program and acknowledge some good has come out it, even if the guidelines have been exacting and challenging.”

Among his criticisms Cr Manning said a solid financial plan had been made 18 months ago and that councillors, after much ‘argy bargy’, voted not to include a rate rise (beyond the targeted infrastructure one last year).

“Now all this has been thrown in the bin – if you wanted a rate rise, which didn’t you take it then?” Cr Manning said.

Cr Mark Troy said things had changed a lot in the last 18 months.

“The goal posts have been moved – a reform process has been introduced, we have to accept that and plan to meet the objectives,” Cr Troy said.

“There is no totally right plan, this is a long term plan and it will be revisited annually.

“No-one likes price increases but it is essential we ensure the delivery of expected services occurs.”

With regard to the final draft, Cr Dominic King said the process had been a struggle.

“The State Government legislation has meant we have had to come up with a plan … a rate rise is one of the mechanisms – we have to meet the guidelines,” Cr King said.

“This is a pattern of increasing pressure on us by the State government.

“There is less money, we have a low socio-economic population, lots of roads and bridges plus only 50 per cent (57 per cent is the correct amount) of the land is rateable.

“The same people, who complain about the rate rise, will complain about bad roads.

“The anger should be directed at the NSW Government, not here.”

The council adopted the final submission for the Fit for the Future program with Crs Manning and Carter voting against it.

The submission was sent yesterday, June 30.

To view the Fit For the Future document, go to http://www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/images/documents/bellingen/Council/Minutes/2015/24%20JUNE%202015/9.4A%20FFF%20SUBMISSION.pdf.

And for the detailed story behind the document, scroll through to page 58 and read on.