Councilor Column Cr Claudia Haenel

The end of the financial year is fast approaching, and with federal and state budgets just released, it’s interesting to get a snapshot of our council’s budget 2021 – 2022.

HRCC will be spending most on rural roads and waste, recycling and environmental services, followed by urban roads.

The least expenditure will be on economic development, tourism, families, youth and children services.

This correlates with Horsham Rural City Talks surveys, recently completed by over 700 people. Top of the list that respondents wanted to see was improved transport infrastructure including a bypass.

Also, a thriving economy with less empty shops, a more developed city with natural resources beautification, water and tourist parks.

I have been hearing a lot about rates and how they affect our farming community. While it’s hard to compare a pensioner in town paying approximately 10 per cent of their annual income in rates that can’t be offset, I do listen when a farmer tells me he can’t see how he benefits from his greater contribution.

Rates are essentially a wealth tax and if a farmer is paying their greater share, I can understand that they want to see some return on their investment in the community that they themselves can benefit from.

Hopefully, with the greatest share of council’s budget going to rural roads and waste and recycling solving, these are areas that the rural community might directly benefit from.

High spends also go to parks and open spaces so when we drive into town to watch or play sport on a Saturday, that is also adding to the health and wellbeing of our rural sector as they connect with each other and the overall community.

While I don’t have all the answers to this complex issue of rates, something I suggest could be considered into the future are some memorial plaques recognising the rural sector around the city, as urban areas are developed going forward.

A future park or garden might have a plaque commemorating a farming community, family or event of relevant significance. For example, “This park proudly contributed to Horsham Rural City by the farming community.”

It’s an acknowledgement of the farmer rate contribution to the community we all share. At the very least, let me say it here, that as a community, we recognise and acknowledge the great contribution of the farming sector to our municipality.

We wouldn’t be a rural city without you.