Unpaid garbage fee piles

Unpaid garbage fees are adding on to the amount already owed in rates for the Nausori Town Council. The council said an increasing population and extended town boundaries required more trucks.

Special administrator Uma Kant Patel said this translated to an increase by two folds in operations cost.

He said the Nausori Town Council charged only $7 a month per household and people still had not paid this.

“Some homeowners have two to three flats on rent, but billed one single garbage fee. Garbage fee is around $7 per month per household,” he said.

“We hope people will come forward and pay. This is an essential service but if people want garbage services then they have to pay for it.

“We cannot stop to service those who do not pay and it’s simply not fair on those ratepayers who pay.”

Mr Patel said the council would now look at legal options to speed up rates owed to the council. He said this included caveats and garnishee orders.

The council will also be making public the name of defaulting ratepayers. Nausori residents are being urged to take ownership and change their perception on the services that they have come to enjoy from the council.

Mr Patel said the council had plans that would add value to the township. These included CCTV cameras, beautification projects, maintenance of carparks, parking meter installations, upkeep of public toilets, upgrade of parks, footpaths, multipurpose court and Ratu Cakobau Park.

However, to get to this stage, operational costs have to be minimised, which means people have to start paying what they owe to the council.