Nambucca Valley Council has long cried foul when it comes to the levies paid by the council on behalf of ratepayers for emergency services in the shire ... particularly last year when that levy was suddenly 20 per cent more expensive.
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As it was the NSW Government agreed to pay the first 12 months of that particular massive rise but it does not change the fact that historically councils are expected to pay the levy with no questions asked.
So with the NSW Govt exploring ways to improve emergency services management, Cr Rhonda Hoban has jumped at the opportunity to push for change.
In a notice of motion that will be tabled at Thursday's council meeting, Cr Hoban recommends that Council support the transfer of responsibility for emergency management to the NSW government.
This would include the removal of the $120m annual contribution to emergency services paid by NSW councils (on behalf of ratepayers) and transferring ownership of Rural Fire Services and State Emergency Services infrastructure from local councils to the NSW Government.
"There are so many fingers in the emergency services pie and it is really very messy," Cr Hoban told the Guardian News.
"For example, council does have a role in the asset maintenance of RFS resources and in our case they are on our assets register, but that is not how it is with all councils nor the NSW Government.
"There are many inconsistencies .... how can this multi million dollar organisation run without proper accounting of its assets."
Another beef Cr Hoban has with the current system is the lack of transparency.
"When we have asked in the past for a breakdown of how the levy will be spent in the shire, it is refused ... and when we attempted to withhold our payment until we got what we wanted, the State Government said it would withhold our FAGs grants if we did not pay up.
"If it all came under State Government control it would make the whole management of emergency services much better."
In her motion she described recent disaster responses across the state as having highlighted the general 'clunkiness' of emergency response and recovery:
"There are overlaps and gaps, unclear responsibilities and in some cases inadequate funding, training, experience and resources," Cr Hoban writes.
Councillors will discuss the matter on Thursday evening from 5.30pm in the Macksvillle council chambers.