IN August 2023, NSW Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig announced that pensioners could apply for up to $250 in rebates on their ordinary council rates and waste charges.
Further rebates of $87.50 for water rates and another $87.50 for sewerage rates, were also available.
But the rebates were not new. They were introduced in 1993 to cover what was then 50 percent of annual rate charges.
Gloucester pensioner Ian Parks, who has become increasingly dismayed that his rates keep increasing while the rebates do not, recently wrote to Minister Hoenig, MidCoast Council (MCC), and Gloucester’s state member Dave Layzell, asking for some action.
“Why are we being penalised by owning our own home and being treated like ‘cash cows’?” he wrote in his letter.
“Why are we being forced to choose between food, medications, transport, power, cooling or heating, the odd outing, or paying MCC’s exorbitant rates?”
In its reply, MCC agreed that the rebate was inadequate but suggested that it was a matter for the NSW Government.
A Council spokesperson told News Of The Area that, “With relentless and increasing cost shifting from state and federal governments onto local councils, MidCoast Council believes the responsibility rests with those entities to provide more relief for pensioners, especially considering pension rates have not increased for a long time.”
Council said it would continue to lobby the Government for a change.
However, in his reply, Member for Upper Dave Layzell suggested it was a Council matter and made no mention of State Government responsibility.
He recommended that Mr Roberts lobby Council – which he had done – and offered to make his own representations.
Minister Hoenig did not reply.
“…. this type of assistance is next to useless,” Ian had told them.
“You’re killing us financially, and you don’t seem to care!”
The Combined Pensioner and Superannuants Association has pointed out that the 50 percent discount has become largely obsolete, resulting in a concession that offers only a fraction of the value that was initially intended in 1993.
As his letters have not resulted in relief, Mr Parks has decided to form a local lobby group to try and get some action.
Anyone interested can contact him on 0414 582 019 or via parksy56@bigpond.com.
By John WATTS
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