For The Record: City of Melville's Rates Increase

A recent report incorrectly stated the City of Melville’s total rates bill – including waste collection – rose by 15.15 per cent from the 2008/2009 financial year. The article compared the City of Melville’s rates with the neighbouring Cities of Cockburn and Fremantle, and the Town of East Fremantle. The City of Melville provided comment for this article – however, the comment was not included. The report was misleading and inconsistent with previous information published by the same outlet.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Shayne Silcox said the City of Melville’s increase in Average Residential Rates – including the refuse charge and Security Levy but excluding the Pool Levy – was in fact 10.6 per cent, or an increase from a total of $1,125.50 to $1,244.50.

“The City of Melville’s calculations show just how close the Cities of Fremantle, Cockburn and Melville and the Town of East Fremantle really are in actual rates when calculated using the same Gross Rental Valuations and when all charges are taken into account. When comparing rates, it is also important to take into account the fact the City of Cockburn and Town of East Fremantle charge a differential rate to Commercial Properties. If the Cities of Melville and Fremantle adopted this, it would result in a lower Residential rate,” he said.

“It is also important to look at what the Local Government concerned actually provides for its community. The City of Melville offers arguably the highest level of services of the four local governments. It has about 100,000 residents and more than 200 products and services, including five libraries, three recreation centres, 210 parks/reserves, 20 sporting grounds, and more than 135 community buildings. In addition, it has innovative programs and facilities such as the Clean Slate Program (food safety) and the Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre. It is difficult to compare the City of Melville with smaller local governments in the region – such as the Town of East Fremantle – due to differences in population size and services provided,” he said. (See www.melvillecity.com.au/about/products-and-services-a-z)

“It is also not appropriate to draw comparisons and make conclusions based upon one year. The budget adopted by the Melville Council took into account future generations, as well as the current ones. It was an appropriate response to the economic climate that also ensured any future burden was minimised,” he said.

“The misinformation circulating in the community has also suggested the City of Melville tried to hide charges, when the City has consistently been transparent in its communications – both to the media and the general community – about the charges it has factored into the Budget and how these have been calculated. The City has for many years shown the refuse charge as a separate line item on the rate notice, as it is a very significant cost item in its own right, and the City wishes to clearly communicate the costs of this service. The major cost increase in refuse charges has been clearly communicated in media releases and responses, on the City’s website, in the City’s community newsletter Mosaic and in the budget summary booklet included in all ratepayers’ rate notices. Anyone who has any queries is encouraged to make contact with the City,” he said.

Amended on Thursday, 27 August 2009.