Hobart settles for 2%

City avoids big rates slug — and finds a little extra for Taste

HOBART ratepayers will be spared the double-digit rate rises of their neighbours — with a 2 per cent increase adopted by the council last night.

As Glenorchy residents face a potential hike of up to 20 per cent, Hobart City Council has implemented a 2 per cent rate rise, equating to an average increase of $48 per household.

The council also forked out an extra $400,000 for this year’s Taste of Tasmania festival, taking the total budget to $1.6 million.

Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie asked for a report on the future of the festival to be presented by January 31.

“I’m happy that the council has decided to support the Taste festival with extra funding. It will allow us to deliver a fantastic event for the 30th anniversary,” he said.

“We will look at what options are available to us for the future of the festival.”

The council plans to spend $41.8 million in capital works and will borrow up to $20 million to pay for most of it.

The council has forecast an underlying surplus of $1.5 million.

Big ticket expenditure items on the budget include: $3.3 million for the Tasman Highway shared-bridge project; $3 million for the Brooker Bridge pedestrian and cycle crossing; $2.9 million for the Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre refurbishment; $1 million for Pinnacle Rd guardrail renewal and $1 million for Salamanca pedestrian works.

Alderman Christie labelled the budget fair and sensible.

“It’s one that I think the residents of Hobart should be pleased with in terms of waste management and energy efficiency,” he said.

“The 2 per cent increase will fund the increased cost of delivering services to meet community expectations. While the impact on individual ratepayers varies, the average residential ratepayer will experience a rate increase of $48 a year.”

Ratepayers will enjoy a reduction in landfill rehabilitation service charges, from $50 to $10 for residential properties and from $100 to $20 for non-residential.

Council wages and salaries rise by $4 million, energy costs decrease by $294,000 and the council expects a $3.14 million increase in parking revenue thanks largely to the rollout of the council’s smart meters.

The council will contribute $875,000 to the Myer redevelopment and has budgeted $250,000 for the local government election in October.

The budget has no provision for the May storm that devastated the city and racked up a $25 million bill.