Rates such a rip- off

I RECENTLY received my half yearly rates notice. We had elected to be on the Water Watchers Plan to save some money but also do our bit and reduce water consumption.

We have six people living in our house and used 138kl of water for a half year which would mean we would use about 276kl for the year. Of note is the annual allowance of 772kl if I decided to be on the standard plan. The standard plan costs $ 755/ year.

Based on our usage of almost a third of the standard plan rate and using the Water Watchers Plan our expenses will be $ 724/ year, therefore only saving $ 31 for the year to be on that plan.

Townsville City Council therefore provides us with very little incentive to use almost a third of the standard allocation. I think they need to review their costings and reward those who do the right thing.

While I am at it I’d like to highlight another reason Townsville struggles economically with its council rates and infrastructure charges.

About two years ago I started the process of subdividing a residential block that was on a 1450sq m lot in an established suburb of Townsville.

This would leave the estab- lished house on one block and another block to build another dwelling. There was already a water and sewerage connection to the existing house.

I was required to pay council almost $ 27,000 for “head works” costs.

I queried what I got for this money only to be told it was the figure they had come up with to cover the increased use of the road, water and sewage system as a house could be put on the vacant block.

Bearing in mind that all the infrastructure was already in place, one would think that paying an additional annual rates bill on this vacant lot cov- ers these costs. On top of this I was also required to pay for a new sewerage system upgrade and manhole to service this block ( about $ 14,000) that they essentially own.

So after spending all this money I asked them to install a water meter to the vacant lot. I was told it would cost another $ 1193 to install this. Surely after paying $ 41,000 they could at least put on the water for me.

To prove how much the council slugs its residents I just received the rates notice for this vacant block of land.

Lo and behold there’s a half yearly fee of $ 348 for use of the sewerage system along with $ 172 for use of the water. So I’m paying another $ 1040 annually when I don’t even have a toilet or a water meter on the block of land.

I called the council and asked why I’m paying for water usage when I don’t even have a water meter only to be told it’s because a water pipe runs past the vacant lot.

I thought that my $ 27,000 head works cost covered that.

Just how can the council continue to rip- off ratepayers like this?

It’s no wonder the economy in Townsville is the way it is. RYAN ANTHONY,

Belgian Gardens.