In response to the community survey we recently received from Luke and the National Party, we would like to express our most pressing concerns to you both so that you may be able to help our community.

The ISSUES: tackling the rising cost of living and putting downward pressure on housing costs.

By far the most pressing concern for our community is the neverending cost of living increases induced by Bellingen Shire Council rate rises. 11.9% + 6% + 19.1% consecutive rate rises, all of them cumulative and compounding each year, thus it becomes exponential. Regular revaluations also compound these costs.

Rates costs will double in the period from 2010 to 2020 or soon thereafter. On a typical small farm in this Shire carrying around 50 head of cattle, the rates in 2010 were $1,763/annum.  With the all the increases to date and the projected increases of 19.1% the rate burden on the same small farm will be at least $3,260 in 2020 and 87.2 % or a $1,497 rate hike. This does not include the effects of another revaluation or increased charges and levees outside the base rate.

It is presumed that a similar percentage increase will be experienced by residential ratepayers. It is impossible for the less well off, the old and people on fixed incomes to absorb these cost of living increases without significantly detracting from their standard of living.

It appears that we are to suffer neverending cost of living increases and no one will stand up for our interests. The Council also misrepresented the community opposition to the previous IPART rate rises and said that because they only received 3% submissions from the community on the issue, that 97% of the community gave implied consent to the previous rate rises. Nothing could be further from the truth.  It simply represents total disillusionment and no faith whatsoever in the IPART process or its independence and terms of reference.

Will you both please represent our community and resolve this most pressing issue before IPART rubber stamps this next 19.1% rate increase?

Bellingen Shire Ratepayers Association steering committee