The rate increase puts the general rate percentage at 7.64, which included the renewed environmental levy for a period of two years. Expedited at its July 1 meeting, council’s application for a one per cent increase above rate pegging received the green light from the Minister for Local Government on the grounds the extra revenue would be used to fix areas of significant flood damage not covered under disaster management funding. Nambucca Shire Mayor Rhonda Hoban said that a number of councils applied for large variations in order to keep up with the cost of asset and infrastructure management.

“The rate increase will only net council $75,000 cash for the general fund,” Cr Hoban said. “Council is borrowing $500,000 over 10 years and using the one per cent increase to repay the loan for the repair of Deep Creek Bridge at Valla and landslip

stabilisation of Riverside Drive, Nambucca Heads.” Increases for all single residential, non-strata dwellings are as follows; Water charges will rise from $1.37 to $1.49 per kilolitre of consumption.

Sewerage charges will rise from $385 to $415 per assessment for single residential connections. Domestic waste management (the three bins)remains unchanged at $438 per separate occupancy, per assessment. The environmental levy remains at $17.60 per assessment for two years.

Along with the increased cost of electricity, this puts added pressure on the average, Aussie household.

Although the general rate increase of 3.6 per cent may not seem like much, some residents believe, along with raised gas and electricity costs, this would only add to the financial burden shouldered by the community.

Macksville resident Brian Fletcher said that the rise was too big to handle when it was all in one hit along with other rising costs.

“There are a lot of things council could do to reduce the rate rise,” Mr Fletcher said.

“People won’t know what affect it will have on them until they start paying.

“It’s not good.”