REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Saturday June 18, 2005

AVERAGE rates were up by 6.4 per cent, or $87.65 compared with 2004 — and that was if you were lucky enough to live in a house.

More than 50,000 unit owners across the Gold Coast were to be slugged an extra $25 on top of the general increase after the council ratified its ‘tough love’ budget, with the rate rise well above official inflation (CPI).

It was virgin territory for rookie finance chairman Cr Rob Molhoek, and his budget effort was full of other firsts.

For the first time, the council agreed to a 10-year, $2.5 billion spending splurge on vital infrastructure, with a strong focus on water, roads and parks.

The Coast’s ratings system received its first overhaul in years after council agreed to introduce averaging of land values over three years.

And, for the first time ever, strata-titled unit owners would pay 5 per cent extra on the minimum general rate, a controversial bid to spread out the rates burden.

The rates hikes was to fund a record $377 million capital works program.

Cr Molhoek played down the rates hike, comparing it with a PlayStation game.

“We’re talking about $87.65 to progress major needs in our city and ensure our future,’’ he said.

“That’s not a huge impost I believe for any family, and I’ve got four kids so I know all about paying the bills and making the budget stretch.

Frankly, it’s far less than the average home spends on mobile phone accounts. it’s a PlayStation game, a pair of boardshorts or one month of pay-TV.’’