Published on Friday, 9 June 2017 at 12:00:00 AM
Consultation sent in by Port Hedland rate payers has been the catalyst for changes made to the proposed 2017/18 Rating Strategy which was endorsed at a Special Council Meeting held on Tuesday 6 June.
The endorsed Strategy will see a 1% reduction in the rates increase in most categories from that seen in the Rating Strategy proposed earlier this year.
Town of Port Hedland Mayor Camilo Blanco said that all feedback sent in has been taken seriously, and has played a major part in the final proposed Strategy.
“We are listening to everything that comes in and we understand that businesses and the community are in a more difficult financial position than they have been in previous years,” Mayor Blanco said.
“Residential rates will now only increase by 1.5% which is pretty much in line with the consumer price index,” he said.
“Industrial rates really do need to rise, but after seeing the feedback we have taken a far more measured approach in this area,” he said.
“There is a huge amount of vacant land around Hedland, and rates on this have been increased as a measure to push owners to develop this land,” he said.
“We have done our best to keep the rates as low as possible, while ensuring that we do not lose the many essential services provided by the Town.”
The Rating Strategy will now be sent to the Minister for Local Government for approval before it is able to be adopted in the new financial year.
For updates please keep an eye on the Town of Port Hedland website.
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