Zoe Moffatt
A decision on Hume council’s waste service charge has been pushed to the next council meeting after proposed methodology was overturned in a vote on Monday night.
Hume council was split over a proposal to implement a waste service charge in the next financial year in its meeting on February 27.
The proposed waste service charges include a flat-fee for kerbside waste and a capital improved value fee for public waste services. The proposal also includes a $50 rebate for pensioners, and veterans with a gold card.
Jacksons Creek Ward councillor Jack Medcraft said he was frustrated with the decision and the councillors who withdrew their support for the charge.
“If we don’t have a waste charge, we’re going to have to cut back on essential services,” he said.
“I’d thought we agreed on it, then bang bang.”
Hume council is currently one of three councils out of 79 in Victoria that does not have a waste service charge. Cr Medcraft said this is costing the council $2 million.
Aitken Ward councillor Carly Moore said she disagreed with Cr Medcraft and the proposed methodology for calculating the service charge.
“I take issue with the way the public waste service fee is being calculated,” she said at the council meeting.
“The proposal is based on the value of your property… it assumes that the value of your property translates to your capacity to pay.”
“It doesn’t consider how big your mortgage might be or how many dependants you might have living in your home.
“The service provided for public waste is also equal but we are proposing that the cost will not be, I don’t accept that this is fair.”
Support for the proposal was voted by Cr Naim Kurt, Cr Karen Sherry, Cr Jarrod Bell, Cr Medcraft and mayor Joseph Haweil. While councillors who voted against the proposal include Cr Chris Hollow, Cr Trevor Dance, Cr Jodi Jackson, Cr Sam Misho, Cr Moore and Cr Jim Overend.
Cr Medcraft said he was frustrated councillors voted against the proposal but did not offer an amendment.
“The frustrating thing was… if you’re going to knock it back you need to have an amendment, but no one did. That’s what frustrated me.”
The proposal and possible amendments is set to be discussed at the next council meeting.
Cr Medcraft said he is “hoping to see some common sense” at this meeting.
**An earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed Cr Jack Medcraft’s comments to Cr Naim Kurt. Star Weekly apologies for the mistake.**
