MILDURA ratepayers are forking out up to 10 times the amount of rates as those in metropolitan areas with properties of the same value, State Parliament has been told.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper this week said the high rates burden was one of the common themes she encountered during a “Reason for the Regions” tour of the electorate with Reason Party leader Fiona Patten during the parliamentary summer break.
Ms Cupper said the pair met with community leaders about the needs and aspirations of a modern regional community.
She said meetings held in Mildura, Robinvale, Manangatang, Wycheproof and Birchip found a wide range of service and infrastructure priorities.
“One of the common themes was concern about the high rates burden on regional councils and property owners,” Ms Cupper told State Parliament.
“The inequity in the current system means ratepayers in the Mildura electorate can be paying two, three – up to 10 times – the rates of those in metropolitan areas with properties of the same value,” she said.
“It is the backbone of our RateGate campaign to lobby for meaningful long-term reform of the rate system in Victoria.”
Ms Cupper said issues of public housing availability in smaller communities, such as Robinvale and the Buloke and Yarriambiack council regions, were also highlighted.
“While the Victorian Government’s brilliant Big Housing Build announcement in the last budget will provide $40 million for affordable and public housing in the Mildura local government area, there remains a great need in some of the smaller local government areas,” she said.
She said discussions with the Manangatang Victorian Farmers Federation also centred around roads, rates and deep concerns about the rescoped Murray Basin rail project.
