MOORABOOL councillors will meet discontented farmers in coming weeks to discuss proposed rate rises as landowners call for the council to “get it under control”.
Broadacre farmer Chris Sharkey is leading a push to have the latest rise justified, saying farmers have already seen rates climb up to 12 per cent a year in the past seven to 10 years.
“We’re not making an extra 10 per cent every year to counter-balance these rises so everyone’s feeling it, including a lot of older locals.”
Mr Sharkey owns a 404-hectare farm on the border of Moorabool and Greater Geelong and pays rates to both municipalities.
Last financial year he paid $15,000 to Moorabool shire and $9000 to Geelong. “Most of our land actually lies in Geelong, yet we’re paying $6000 more in Moorabool.” Mr Sharkey said landowners wanted the council to be more considerate of their needs when preparing the budget.
“They need to slow down or just work out a better way so that these increases don’t continue”.
Cr John Spain described farmers’ concerns as “reasonable” but said “given the circumstances we’ve tried our best”.
“We’ve had to factor in the new $2.7 million defined superannuation, rising inflation and new infrastructure. We’ve had so many people wanting to move into Moorabool so we’re having to develop the town to cope.”
Mayor Pat Toohey said: “State government is continually pushing more roles and pressure on us, which consequently affects our residents.’’
