Great Lakes Council has signalled that it intends to apply for rate rises above the rate-pegged limit of 3 per cent. It will ask the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to approve a 3.5 per cent rise over the rate-pegged mark in 2016/17 and 1.25 per cent increases over the set limit every year until 2020. 

Great Lakes Council general manager Glenn Handford says a rate rise would raise more than $1m a year to be plowed back into the rural roads network to address a backlog of works. File photo

Great Lakes Council general manager Glenn Handford has been hosting community meetings around the shire over the last week and introducing the reasons behind the proposed rate hike. 

He said the rate rise would raise more than $1m a year to be plowed back into the rural roads network to address a backlog of needed works. 

The proposal will be officially submitted to IPART in February next year after it has been through a community consultation process. 

“This is a long process to have a special rate variation approved,” Mr Handford said. 

“We’ve got a 1000km road network to maintain. We’d be looking to invest the funds in our roads.”

The remaining funds would be set to a number of other projects, including playground equipment, a graduate engineer position and dredging works. 

A community survey highlighted roads as a central concern of Great Lakes residents. 

Council’s waste levy, after jumping significantly this year, would remain stable over the next few years while the rate rises occurred, if they were approved, Mr Handford said. 

The waste levy would rise by about $2.50 in the first year and remain steady after that. 

IPART will release its decision on whether to grant the rise in May 2016. 

Community members have been urged to submit their response to the plan by looking at council’s draft delivery program for 2013-2017 and operational plan for 2015-2016, which is on public exhibition for viewing and comments until 4.30pm on Friday June 5.