YOU can well understand the anger, some of it fury, of some residents of the Hills Plains area over the past week at the realisation that their rates have risen quite substantially and suddenly.
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They’ve just found out they are up for more for living where they do.
Many of them believe it’s an unfair hit. And yes, to some extent it is, in the manner in which it has been delivered. Like a bolt from the blue.
However, the rate rise needs to be examined within context, and they should not expect they are being singled out or discriminated against from others.
There is also the fact they risk alienating their neighbours just down the road – who have been paying the new rate all along.
The council quite rightly should attract criticism.
It has failed to adequately inform residents of a change in their rating mechanism, but it cannot be accused of doing something discriminatory and underhanded.
It has failed to communicate the reality.
Some 238 properties in the Browns Ln to Bournes Ln areas were caught up in a review of, or an extension of changes to, the Tamworth Regional Council 2010 Local Environment Plan.
What this did was extend the greater Tamworth city rating sub-category boundary to include their land. That rating categorisation has changed from ordinary – residential to ordinary – residential Tamworth. It brings them into line with other properties in the area that already pay their rates calculated under the ordinary – residential Tamworth sub-category.
Council decided in 2011/12 to extend the greater Tamworth city rating sub-category boundary to include the new subdivisions in the growing Hills Plains area. It means they are being asked to pay the same level paid by other residents of the city, such as Kingswood, South Tamworth and Nemingha.
It will result in the rates for affected properties increasing by between $534 and $3139 (for a 19-hectare property). The average increase is $680.
Other residents in those other areas have been paying those rates at that rate. And the council has already announced it will not be seeking back payments.
In effect, they’ve won something of a windfall that many others might feel aggrieved about too.
To its credit, the council has offered hardship provisions for those who might find the new rates suddenly too onerous.
The council has admitted residents should have been given more notice about the rating reclassification and been made fully aware of how it would add to their rates bill.
It was, in effect, a stuff-up.
