Council hits back over viral email

Sunshine Coast Councillor Chris Thompson is not happy with the charge claims.

Nicholas Falconer NF

The Sunshine Coast council has hit back after a letter from a southern council regarding a compassionate rates subsidy was circulated across the region.

The letter outlined how Moreton Bay Regional Council would offer ratepayers a significant rates subsidy for the next two years.

Featuring the signature of Moreton Mayor Allan Sutherland, the missive has fuelled tempers in Noosa, as rates bills land in letterboxes.

The image, titled “Compassionate Council” stated that Moreton residents would be given a helpful subsidy when their first water bill from Unitywater arrived.

It stated, “(Council) will provide you with a 50% subsidy on any increase in your water and sewerage access charges compared to 2009/10.”

“This significant subsidy will help reduce the impact on ratepayers as our community adjust to the largest reform of water and sewerage services in Queensland’s history.”

Councillor Chris Thompson slammed the viral email, listing a table of figures that he said proved Coast ratepayers were far better off than their southerly counterparts.

According to the figures, even taking the subsidy into account:

• Sunshine Coast rates went up 10% to $1148
• Redcliffe increased 37% to $1137
• Caboolture jumped 20% to $1237 and
• Pine Rivers moved up 16% to an average of $1264.

In a statement, Cr Thompson said the average rates cost in Moreton were 5.6% higher than ours, and our water costs were based on residents consuming 211L of water, compared to Moreton’s 166.

“I won’t be making any comments on what the Moreton Bay council are doing or not doing with regards to their finances – the figures speak for themselves,” he said.

Noosa resident Jeff Nuske, who said he circulated the information, said Cr Thompson’s figures proved little.

Mr Nuske said council was ignoring the levies paid by Sunshine Coast residents, a cost he described as “rubbish”.

“Businesses pay transport and environmental levies and they’re not included in the general rate,” he said.

Ideally, he said, the Sunshine Coast council would scrap the levies entirely and simultaneously distribute a rates subsidy.