Open for business: WRC draft plan aims for growth
REDUCED rates for the majority of vacant land, businesses and industries – along with a new rate rebate to stimulate local growth – feature in Wakefield Regional Council’s proposed plans for 2022/23.
Most vacant land rates will be almost halved under the proposed plan as a lever to entice developers to the region, while a strategic rate rebate of up to 100% for up to 10 years will also be on offer for the first time to encourage investment, facilitate residential development and support existing businesses and industries to thrive and expand.
Council last night endorsed its draft 2022/23 Annual Community Plan & Budget for community consultation and Mayor Rodney Reid said significant investment in projects to activate the region and renew community assets would also take centre stage.
“Guided by our Wakefield 2030 Community Plan, we are proposing to invest in a number of exciting projects in 2022/23 – including $1M to kickstart transformation of Port Wakefield into a tourism and lifestyle destination,” Mayor Reid said.
“The Port Wakefield Master Plan is arguably the most exciting project ever undertaken by Council and we have agreed to allocate $500,000 on top of another $500,000 from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program in 2022/23. We will continue to pursue even more grant funding for this transformational work.”
The draft budget includes $9.55M of capital works to deliver Wakefield 2030 priority projects, including $4.98M for renewing roads, foothpaths, kerbs and water tables across the region.
“With the $3.2M Balaklava Pool for All and $840,000 Owen pool upgrade scheduled for completion later this year, our attention is also turning to a range of other recreational venues as we plan to develop, with the community, a master plan for Snowtown Sporting Precinct and detailed design for the Blyth Sporting Precinct, along with numerous playground improvements,” Mayor Reid said.
Council’s recently adopted Rating Policy, which includes a new model for calculating rates, will be applied for the first time in 2022/23. The new approach aims to balance rates more evenly across different categories of land use and encourage growth and development in line with the long term vision of Wakefield 2030: A great place to do business and a great place to belong.
“In the year ahead, we are forecasting significant average rate decreases for vacant landholders (reduction of 43%), commercial businesses (reduction of 7%) and industries (reduction of 17%),” Mayor Reid said. “One of the main aims of our new Rating Policy is to reflect our Wakefield 2030 strategies around opening the region to business, supporting existing businesses to thrive and expand and enticing new developers to the area, so this rate relief will be a great first step, while the strategic rate rebate for industry, business and developers will ultimately benefit the whole community through jobs and economic growth.”
Mayor Reid said the latest figures from the Valuer-General show capital valuations for the primary production land use category have soared on average by 24%.
“Applying the new model, we are seeking to redistribute some of the rate burden across other land use categories. This allows us to keep the rate increase to an average of 8% for primary production land holders – which equates to about $3.87 a week,” he said.
“On top of that, a separate cap now applies for individual ratepayers whose annual rate increase exceeds 7% above the 5% general rate rise being proposed by Council, so there is another safety net in place for those who have had significant valuation increases.
“Overall, we’re forecasting a total 5% increase in rates income to Council. Residential property owners will see an average increase of 8% - the same as primary production – or about $1.77 a week extra on average to help fund the projects and services that benefit the community.”
Mayor Reid said Council would be affected by the recent record Consumer Price Index rise and was anticipating a 4.7% increase to operating and capital costs for 2022/23.
“Our long term financial plan has forecast a 5% increase to the general rate and, despite the CPI increase, we will be able to stick to that plan as we have been successful in securing additional grants to support our work and we have continued to improve our operational efficiency,” he said.
Feedback on the draft plan is invited until 5pm, Thursday 30 June 2022:
* By email – to admin@wrc.sa.gov.au
* By mail – to PO Box 167, Balaklava SA 5461
Council will also set aside an hour from 5pm at its 29 June meeting to hear from community members and ratepayers who wish to ask questions or provide verbal feedback. The session will be held in the Phil Barry Chamber, Scotland Street, Balaklava. Please RSVP: 8862 0800.
The draft plan can be viewed or downloaded here.
Hard copies are available on request from post offices in Balaklava, Blyth, Hamley Bridge, Owen, Port Wakefield, Snowtown and Brinkworth or from Council’s Balaklava office.
Rating snapshot – proposed changes
Land use | Average rates 21/22 | Average rates 22/23 | % change in average rates | $ change in average rates |
Residential | $1,100 | $1,192 | 8% | $92 |
Primary production | $2,513 | $2,714 | 8% | $210 |
Commercial | $2,353 | $2,196 | -7% | - $157 |
Industrial | $2,110 | $1,755 | -17% | - $355 |
Other | $1,584 | $1,623 | 2% | $39 |
Vacant land | $1,091 | $617 | -43% | - $474 |
* These figures are average rates for each land use category. Some ratepayers will pay more and some will pay less than the average depending on property valuations. Figures will be updated prior to adoption of the plan.