Waste charges to increase

Moira Shire residents can expect hikes to kerbside general waste collection charges as well as landfill and transfer station fees.

Council is passing on a 19 per cent waste levy increase from the Environmental Protection Agency to users in full, after it adopted its 2022-23 budget at a meeting on Wednesday, June 22.

The increase is a fee that’s payable by ratepayers to help offset the fee the EPA and Victorian Government charges Moira Shire Council.

Mayor Libro Mustica said the increase would apply from July 1.

“This legislated levy must be paid for all waste that is received at licensed landfills, with the cost of this increase passed on fully through the kerbside general waste collection service charge as well as relevant landfill and transfer station user fees and charges,” Cr Mustica said.

The Mayor said while council was complying with a 1.75 per cent rate cap, individual rates notices would be impacted due to movement between valuations in rating differential groups, as well as for individual properties.

Council is also prioritising a 100 per cent renewal target on council assets, but acknowledged new project opportunities could be missed.

A total of $25.61 million of capital works are projected, which council says is an effort to consolidate and catch up on incomplete or not started projects out of its control.

“A number of projects are highlighted in the budget 2022-23 as being subject to grant funding; if funding applications are unsuccessful, these projects will not be able to progress,” Cr Mustica said.

The new budget was developed during a two-step community engagement process, starting with a proposal submission period between November 2021 and February 2022.

Council received 24 submissions from residents, organisations and businesses during this time, 15 of them spoke directly to councillors in March to support their submissions.

Once the budget was drafted, a further 10 people provided feedback between May 26 and June 7, where the public could speak with councillors and staff by appointment in the four major towns, as well as making written submissions.

Cr Mustica said the budget also aimed to safeguard communities and staff, look after council assets, maximise regional travel and migration through tourism, and enhance democracy and communication.

A copy of budget 2022-23 is available on the Moira Shire Council website.