Public Notices

HIGH STREET HILLSTON – TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURES

Council advises that a temporary closure of High Street (north bound lane) for the removal of an unused pole in the medium strip. Works will be held on Sunday 21 July 2024 9:00AM – 10:30AM.

Drivers are asked to exercise caution when driving near this section of road and to obey traffic control signage. Motorists are advised to use detours in place. A clear aerial view map of the works area and detours available can be viewed on Council’s Facebook.

COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2024

General Council Elections will be held on 14 September 2024.

Non Residential Roll
Claims for inclusion on the roll of non-resident owners of rateable land or for the roll of occupier and ratepaying lessees for Carrathool Shire closes on 5 August 2024. Claims forms are available by contacting Council.

Councillor Nominations
On Monday 5 August 2024 rolls will close for the purpose of being nominated on the roll.

Lodgment of nominations to stand for Council will commence on 5 August 2024.

The election is being conducted by the NSW Electoral Commissions. Information for voters and potential Councillor nominations is available at www.elections.nsw.gov.au.

COUNCIL STATEMENT ON COST SHIFTING

Cost shifting is when state or federal governments transfer, or ‘shift’ responsibility for providing a certain service, concession, asset or regulatory function to councils. The link below details a report prepared for Local Government NSW by consulting firm Morrison Low which provides information on how local government ratepayers are funding more than a billion dollars of state government obligations.

On average, the research determined that cost shifting represents an additional cost of $460.67 for every ratepayer across the state. With councils having to fund this ongoing subsidy for the state government every year, it means our communities get less or go without. They go without better roads, they go without better parks, they go without important community services that only councils provide and they, and the ratepayers, are effectively paying hidden taxes to other levels of government. The report further indicates that rural councils such as ours have seen a greater impact with rural councils experiencing cost shifting amounting to $590.80 for every ratepayer.

Primary examples of cost shifting impacting our shire include:

• emergency service contributions – through the emergency services levy, councils are required to fund 11.7% of expenditure
• rates exemptions for government owned property
• inadequate or reduced funding for services required to be delivered by Council – for example libraries (State Government originally funded 50% of costs but this has reduced over time to be approximately 8% in 2021/22)
• pensioner rebates required to be provided by Council but with only 55% subsidised by the State Government leaving ratepayers to subsidise the remaining 45%
• provision of services usually provided by other levels of government is particularly an issue for rural councils.  Examples include aged care services and medical services.

The table below provides actual data for the financial year 2021/22 which demonstrates a minimum cost to the ratepayers of Carrathool Shire of $1,146,470 as a consequence of cost shifting by other levels of government. Our local government area has 2,634 rates assessments. Of these assessments, 700 are exempt from paying rates leaving the other 1,934 to absorb the impacts of cost shifting. This equates to an actual cost of approximately $592.80 per ratepayer. There are additional expenditures such as those for crown land reserve management where it is difficult to reliably estimate a cost to Council

Carrathool Shire Council takes our responsibility to ensure sustainable financial management seriously and cost shifting by the state government seriously undermines our proactive approach to ensure our long-term financial viability while still delivering the infrastructure, programs and services our community expects and deserves.

Annual Cost Shifting Report 21-22

Barking and Roaming Dogs

Council has had many complaints recently regarding barking and nuisance dogs.

Dog owners are reminded that under the Companion Animals Act they are responsible for the behaviour of their dog/s – this includes unacceptable nuisance barking. Fines in excess of $800 can be issued.

There has also been an increase in the number of dogs roaming public streets. Council’s Ranger has increased patrols during both day and night. Dogs loose on the streets will be impounded and fines issued.