THEN
The Northern Star/Daily Telegraph, 5 June 2022:
The scheme targets thousands of flood affected residents from across all seven Northern Rivers government areas and comes as part of a $40 million package by the NSW government.
Deputy Premier and Minister Regional NSW Paul Toole said ratepayers who’s property had been deemed “damaged” would be eligible, or those who had already successfully claimed through Service NSW.
“Northern Rivers residents have been to hell and back, and receiving a rates notice for a home or business they still can barely access is the absolute last thing they need,” Mr Toole said.
He said the NSW government will continue to support flood victims as fears many are still suffering financially and mentally.
“This rates relief is one less thing they need to worry about as they continue to rebuild their lives – and we’ll continue to stand by their side on that journey in the months and years ahead,” he said.
Local government minister Wendy Tuckerman said anyone in the impacted regions is eligible for the scheme, which include Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
“The unprecedented flooding has had a disastrous impact on homes, farms and business premises, particularly in the Northern Rivers, and many people from that region are still doing it tough,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
She said the scheme will address residential, commercial and farm rates for the 2022/23 financial year, with the hope it will “help them get back on their feet and ease the pressure on council.”…...
NOW
The Northern Star/Daily Telegraph, 12 August 2022:
Flood impacted ratepayers in the Northern Rivers are outraged over broken promises to have their rates paid for the year.
In a well-meaning gesture to ease financial burdens on the region, Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg publicly announced council would waive the cost of rates for those directly impacted by the floods during the initial clean-up stages in March.
Community anger was aroused when council found they could not deliver on their promise, taking extra time for legal advice and to start lobbying for financial aid.
In June, the State Government announced a $40 million rates relief package for the region.
But ratepayers are calling the announcements misleading as they did not explain the relief would only cover the land value element of their rates bills.
Lismore resident Binnie O’Dwyer said being a single mother with two teenagers was hard enough.
“I live in the basin on Hindmarsh Street,” Ms O’Dwyer said.
“I just thought rates were rates and everything on the rates notice is rates.
“So, to now be told that only a part of that will be waived is misleading.”
Ms O’Dwyer said she cannot help feeling cynical about government promises.
“And it just adds to the extreme financial burden that I am carrying since the floods’’ she said.
“Having to rebuild and replace things costs a lot and when this announcement was made it was like a small reprieve.
“So, to have that taken away is hard and it just makes me cynical about all their announcements of help which don’t seem to amount to much.”
Lismore councillor Adam Guise said residents were getting their rates notices now with shock and trepidation because their rates have not been waived.
“It is a portion of what they were led to believe,” Cr Guise said. “We told them we would waive rates.
“We had Minister Cooke say eligible ratepayers would not be paying their rates for the next year.
“We need to ask them [state government] to come through on their promise to the community and deliver full rate relief.”
He said flood impacted residents who may be homeless or not living in their homes did not deserve this shock, especially in the light of uninhabitable homes and businesses.
“This is despite the State Government’s $40 million announcement of rates relief across the region and a $20 million ’grant’ to Lismore council that we’re yet to sign,” Mr Guise said.
In a unanimous vote, Lismore councillors agreed to write to the State Government and relevant ministers to call on them to honour their promise to pay rates in full…..
Lismore Council has received an advance of around $6.5 million to cover the rates cost from the state government. “Further payments will be made monthly to councils throughout the 2022/23 financial year,’’ the spokesperson said.
“Councils can also provide relief to ratepayers experiencing genuine financial hardship through their hardship provisions.’’
