Zoe Moffatt
Hume council has voted to introduce a flat-fee for waste services at residential properties, with a decision on commercial and industrial properties moved to a later meeting.
In the meeting on Tuesday, March 14, it was decided a flat-fee methodology would be used when the waste services charge is implemented in the 2023-24 financial year.
Cr Carly Moore said that the flat-fee model will ensure residents will pay the same irrespective of their property size.
“For me, it means that if our residents are receiving exactly the same service then they should be paying exactly the same amount,” she said.
The council decided to separate the decision on the waste fee for commercial and industrial properties after it was discussed how much these properties would be charged under the capital improved value (CIV) method originally proposed by council officers.
Cr Naim Kurt said under the CIV model, the highest valued commercial and industrial property in Hume would pay $70,000 per year in public waste fee.
“The highest [rate paying property] in Hume is a commercial property, which lists at $225 million. And so under the CIV model for a public waste fee, they’ll be paying $70,000 per year in public waste fee,” he said.
“If we move to a flat base model, they’ll be paying $214.”
A decision will be made at a future meeting on how commercial and industrial property will be charged for waste services.
Cr Karen Sherry said the waste services charge only achieves cost recovery and does not generate a surplus or profit for council.
She said council has faced increased costs delivering waste and resource recovery driven by changes including the China Sword Policy and the Victorian Government’s Municipal and Industrial waste levy.
“The lovely [Environment Protection Authority] levy which has gone right up, which has been passed on to us in the usual cost shifting fashion,” Cr Sherry said.
