The first year of the special variation has been limited to the farmland sector only. There are no pensioners within this rating category. In following years pensioners will be impacted upon by the proposed section 508A application. Council will be workshopping effective measures to offset hardship for pensioners and ratepayers within the lower socio-economic band. These measures may include additional rebates for pensioners from Council and utilising different rating methodologies such as differential and base rating to ensure that in most cases undue hardship does not result.  In addition Council has developed a hardship policy to offer relief to ratepayers suffering genuine hardship (see attachment).

The majority of pensioners within Moree Shire receive the full benefit of the maximum pension rebate of $425. All pensioners are rated within the Residential category and the proposed average ordinary rate increase for this category will be $50 (including base rate).
The most major change in Council’s revenue policy exists within the Farmland sector. Council has introduced multiple sub-categories for Farmland in 2008/2009 to manage the impacts of the Water Management Act 2000. In 2009/2010 many ‘dry-land’ properties will see an increase in their rates as we attempt to move towards one farmland category. However, it should be noted that the 20% capping legislation will afford many farmers protection from rating increases in that year. In addition one has to weigh the increased rating costs against productivity losses and machinery damage that are inherent with a failing road network. The farmland sector will receive the ‘lion’s share’ of the proposed section 508A variation increase, however that sector will receive the primary benefit from a sustainable road network.

In the 2009/2010 rating year the Special Variation would apply to the Farmland sector only. In following years the proposed variation will apply to all sectors. The table below demonstrates the impact of this draft proposal.


The success of the special variation proposal in overall terms will allow Council to maintain the current local seal network of 610km and conduct critical gravel re-sheeting programs. At current funding levels projections indicate that Council will only have the resources available to maintain approximately 40% of the sealed local road network by the year 2016.
This is an investment in your future.