Flat rate vote for waste

– Sarah Schwager
CASEY Council has opted to charge a flat rate to residents for their waste collection.
This means 60 per cent of residents will now pay more in their rates to have their rubbish and green waste removed.
The other 40 per cent will pay less for the service.
The decision caused heated debate in the chamber at Tuesday night’s council meeting, with five councillors voting to maintain the status quo and five supporting the flat rate.
However, with councillor Paul Richardson at a conference in Brisbane, mayor Colin Butler used his power to decide the vote.
Waste service charges currently depend on the value of the property, with those in cheaper properties paying less than those living in more expensive accommodation.
Councillor Janet Halsall said she could not understand the point of making 60 per cent of residents worse off by charging a flat rate, especially when a recent survey showed 85 per cent of people were satisfied with council’s waste removal service.
“What is equitable about raising rates to those who can’t afford it?” Cr Halsall said.
But Cr Butler said people should pay for the services they received, and at the moment 40 per cent were paying too much and 60 per cent were paying less than they should be.
Deputy mayor Kevin Bradford said by charging a flat rate most of the city’s residents would be paying $10 to $70 more in their rates, depending on the value of the property.
“For those who rent, this cost is going to fall back on the renters,” he said.
Cr Halsall said she would be putting forward a recission motion when Cr Richardson returned to make sure the waste charges stayed as they were.