Rate review applauded

Settlers Ridgewood Rise Residents Association chairman Ray Thompson last month submitted a petition to Wanneroo City Council calling for a differential rating for the village.

Giving a deputation before the April 28 council meeting, Mr Thompson said the average rate for each of the 240 units in the village was $1157, compared to the City of Wanneroo's minimum rate of $1205.

"With the $48 benefit we are supposed to pay for our road and kerb repair or replacements, globe changes and the maintenances and monthly electricity bills for our 70-plus street lights, maintenance of open spaces, road sweeping, security patrols and other items," he said.

"The village happily pays to keep up the standards of our village " we do however expect some recompense within our rates.

�Those outside the village do not pay for their road and kerbing repairs, their maintenance of common facilities, parks, etc.

�They do not have to pay for globe changes for their street lights or the electricity bills for the same, and they do not have to pay for road sweepers or council rangers and many other services that are paid for by village residents.

"All we get is our garbage collected."

Mr Thompson said the City should calculate rates for the village using minimum block sizes rather than its current valuations.

He said claims that other councils had the same approach as the City did not "make it right".

"It just means that no one has properly queried or investigated it and stood up for their senior citizens," he said.

Councillors unanimously agreed to set up a rating strategy review committee to consider the issue before the 2016-17 budget.

Mr Thompson said it was a step in the right direction, although residents of the Ridgewood village would still have to pay rates under the existing system in 2015-16. The council report said if a differential rating were implemented, it would apply to all four lifestyle villages within the City.