or The event is held in March and hopes are high restrictions on public gatherings have well and truly passed by early next year. People who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to family violence can start a new life in a new home. Wodonga City Council has asked the . If you have any difficulty meeting rate payments, contact us on (02) 6022 9300. You might be eligible for concessions at entertainment venues and for a wide range of recreational activities. Where the class of application is changing to a new class of higher application fee, the difference between the fee for the application to be amended and the fee for the new class. Page URL: https://www.wodonga.vic.gov.au/. %%EOF Rate-capping's introduction in Victoria put a sudden halt to councils which had a propensity to lift rates way above CPI on a regular basis including Wodonga.. $5.2 million in funding for schools was a happy surprise, Mobile food vans could soon be coming to a small town near you, Three out of four homes up for auction sell, but none under the hammer, Burned-out home, overgrown grass, dumped rubbish blights corner block, Man dies days after ute and truck collide in Riverina's north, Same stories here: Indi MP Helen Haines wants action on eating disorders, Come and join the fun at the Special Olympics Expo this Sunday, History beckons as Bullets chase back-to-back titles in Sydney, Terms and Conditions - Digital Subscription, Terms and Conditions - Newspaper Subscription. The Mayoral Advisory Panel consists of mayors from across Victoria who provide high level advice on local government issues. 1999-2023 Wodonga Council. General. RATES NOTICES. Have council's average rates complied with the applicable rate caps? Young people with mental health issues have access to services that provide coordinated treatment and care. Find out what housing services you qualify for. Victoria's concession program helps people who need it most by making essential goods and services more affordable. Already, 21 of Victorias 79 councils have signalled they want to boost rates by more than the 2.5 per cent annual cap prescribed by the state government. It makes communities, councils and our State stronger. "The Wodonga community has seen the benefit of the borrowings that the councillors at that time were brave enough to commit to in pursuit of delivering on a long-term vision with the delivery of key inter-generational projects that drive visitation and economic benefit for our growing city," chief executive Mark Dixon said. Wodonga Council has voted down the revised blueprint for the Junction Place masterplan, which proposed to build a Dan Murphy's liquor store. Local Government Victoria provides a range of planning and reporting guides and templates to assist councils with planning, budgeting and reporting. Contact Karen Walls-Smythe on 6022 9211 or email kwalls-smythe@wodonga.vic.gov.au to arrange collection. But in an interesting revelation Wodonga's contribution to joint initiatives between itself and Albury under the Two Cities, One Community partnership is nearly $130,000 down from the $290,000 figure allocated for the present financial year. We dont know whether they want to use that money for a for tin-man or a railway carriage or even a sculpture of Marilyn Monroe no-one is telling us, Mr Deegan says. VRA spokesman Dr Chan Cheah believes an era of deregulated rate-setting imbued councils with a bloated sense of their political power and contributed to a disconnection from local communities. The towns rates are the fourth most expensive in Victoria, having more than doubled since 2002/3 when the municipality was one of only two councils to levy total rates and charges above $1000. Essential Services Commission Fact sheet 2021 Wodonga City Council 1 Wodonga City Council Group: regional city This fact sheet uses graphs and data to examine this council's revenue, expenditure and financial . A savagely reduced events program due to the COVID-19 pandemic has helped Wodonga Council cushion the blow to its bottom line of a zero per cent rise next financial year. All Animals. Councils love the autonomous comfort zone that rate gouging have given them and strongly resist any attempts to break the way they operate.. For the current financial year, your property has been valued through a general valuation as at January 1. Copyright 2023 The New Daily. They also help deliver important building projects and services that our community needs now and into the future. Wodonga Council has put forward a conservative budget for 2021-2022, balancing the need for long-term stability while striving towards new Council Plan priorities and opportunities. Wodonga City Council is pushing for more details about a planned redevelopment of Albury Base Hospital as residents advocate for a new facility in the region. We would like the council to return to basics improve our roads, get our debt down and reduce rates.. The sorry tale of Victorias rates explosion is perhaps best explained by comparing what average homeowners pay each year in major towns along the border with NSW. Adoption permanently transfers the parental rights and responsibilities of natural parents over to adoptive parents. COUNCIL use only Before a concession is granted the Council must verify . Get The New Daily free every morning and evening. Wodonga Council collected at least $18 million in extra revenue from its waste management levy over the past decade, using the surplus to fund other council services, the Ombudsman has found. It will open just three days, Saturday, Sunday and Monday compared to the usual seven, in a further saving of $234,000 for council. 50% of rate amount = $400, which is above the maximum amount, therefore the concession is the maximum of $247.00. Planning applications on public exhibition, Wodonga's economy, demographic and population. "Under the circumstances I don't think they've given ratepayers and businesses much concession at all. The following tables provide indicative average household bills for metro and regional residential (owner occupier) bills from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. As a little girl in Czechoslovakia, Helena Peskova imagined what her wedding might be like but not in her wildest dreams could she envisage the reality as one of three couples saying I do on the same date in the same church in a migrant camp at the bottom of the world. Please contact the National Relay Service on The council has also made a commitment to keeping its consultancy spend in check. {_Fl\} Sales information is available to the council (under property sales law, councils must be notified of property sales). More than 100 local residents attended a town hall meeting in Albury on Wednesday night to discuss the action, which would seek to reclaim $18 million wrongfully raised through council's waste management levy. What is the process for objecting to a valuation? 1999-2023 Wodonga Council. Access unlimited content, the digital versions of our print editions - Today's Paper, as well as The Daily Advertiser and The Border Mail apps. ## In 2019/20 the ESC approved Mansfield Shire Councils application for a single year higher cap of 13.94 per cent in order to transfer $1.2 million from waste charges into general rates on a revenue neutral basis. 79 0 obj <>stream hXn7}LRl7n$MM[yk%CZ3$+Y]@B8"#W*V/cQt\Q\\1JclDUxT%jJ2&P Le )%g/^i=zM[,P8? It represents about a $32 saving on rates for the average residential property owner who will be paying $1974.40 in combined rates and charges in 2020-21. )BHce Read about the measures and checklists that make up the framework. Wodonga City Council: 2.50%: 5.18%: Wyndham City Council: 2.50%: 5.40%: Yarra City Council: 2.50%: 3.97%: Yarra Ranges Shire Council: 2.50%: 6.44%: Yes. However, Albury-Wodonga's regional catchment is over 360,000 people, which includes Wangaratta, Wagga, Shepparton, Gundagai, Holbrook, Urana, Deniliquin, Corowa, Bright and Benalla - all within a. Its easy to register, youll just need to have your rates notice handy when signing up. What to do first if you dont agree to the values placed on your property? Although the 2014/15 rates data is not yet available for NSW municipalities, over the Murray in Albury, homeowners have consistently paid lower rates over the last 20years. Read the latest survey results and find previous surveys. All Annuals 2 nd s 3 rd s 4 th s Other. If you have multiple properties with the same name and address, the Wodonga Council and Better BorderHealth will raise their concerns about a single site hospital at the Albury Wodonga Health AGM tomorrow Let your imagination soar with catchy choruses, Flying Fruit Flies, junkyard beats and a little bit of magic. Use of this website signifies you have read and understood the disclaimer. r*(OG!NAarIR[ko,b2H`=4K\GKCOv aM;vF6D(OY(rWr).t^bc9/vG2GdI/&Hyv-/OZ0vB|rTUU&,9ZE&'RJYOb&]rU3:)LKP0fLy5fQ8RZUR8E+ZQwFo}:g"DGt~/y2w0~h(u>{ GVk=df )F;w)OPA~U1%lZ?FS@-^uj7::lJX]h`. All rights reserved. www.relayservice.gov.au. Phone the Concessions information line on 1800 658 521 (toll free) for an application form or download one below, see Related resources. On average, Wodonga ratepayers cough up at least $700 more than their NSW neighbours to oil the wheels of their local council. The concession is calculated at 50%of the municipal rates and charges up to a maximum amount each financial year. Trench warfare between Monique Ryan and political staffer, Researchers confirm that living with chronic pain brings a higher risk of dementia, Michael Pascoe: More rubbish about taxing super than youll find at the tip, Monster you become: Alex Murdaugh sentenced for killing wife and son, Review underway as workers pay a deadly price for cheaper engineered-stone bench tops, UK mulled killing 10.9 million cats to stop COVIDs spread during the pandemics early days, Hong Kong court convicts dissident trio for marking date of Tiananmen massacre, King Charles sacred coronation oil blessed in Jerusalem, Police charge IT worker with $90k Maritime Museum ripoff, NSW Labor promises never to privatise new Harbour tunnel. The three councils most likely to encounter resistance from ratepayer advocates are Ballarat, Melbourne and Maribyrnong, which each this year issued average assessments for rates and charges at above $2000. Municipal rates are one of the fastest-growing government rip-offs in states like Victoria and Western Australia, but they have been left out of the discussion in the national taxation debate. It is. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3000 page 6. page 12. development. Ratepayers associations are skeptical about whether rate capping reforms introduced by the VictorianLabor government to tie rate increases to inflation will put an end to rate gouging by councils. Assessment no. Here you will find the current projects and proposals that wed like your feedback on. The legislation relating to the Municipal Rates Concession does not allow councils to give concessions to holders of these cards. electronically the applicant's eligibility via Centrelink's CCeS. Children, young people and adults who have experienced recent or past sexual assault can access support and care services. Wodonga Council has submitted five questions to tomorrow's Albury Wodonga Health AGM calling on greater transparency and accountability to our community following last year's funding announcement to redevelop the Albury hospital site. Some home owners might be entitled to deductions on council rates and other home levies. Would you like to lodge an objection to your rating valuation? Data is compiled on each property over time, through inspection, building and planning permits and other public sources. WODONGA COUNCIL'S 2021-2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS AT A GLANCE Operating expenditure - $70.4 million Capital works program delivered - $16.8 million Rates and charges - $48.5 million (55.5%. Walking and cycling tracks Local reserves Sporting ovals and complexes Skate park and pump track WAVES Wodonga Sports & Leisure Centre Ground closures Off-leash dog areas Community Centres The centres Facilitating & volunteering Rates Page URL: https://www.wodonga.vic.gov.au/Online-Services/Pay/Rates Rates / Online Services / Pay / Rates Given names Surname. Page URL: https://www.wodonga.vic.gov.au/Online-Services/Pay/Rates. The Victorian Aids and Equipment Program provides people with a permanent or long-term disability with subsidised aids, equipment, home, and vehicle modifications. How rate rises and inflation are pushing middle . Tuesday 28 February 2023. They operate under the highest standards of professionalism and ethics. For more than a decade, The City of Wodonga has been one of the highest-taxing local governments in Victoria (and the nation), and it this year levied average rates and charges of $2258 on ratepayers. Valuers also have powers to obtain additional information. Local councils gouging on rates Dr Cheah says ratepayer activism is intensifying across the state. But Wodonga Ratepayers Association president Allan Bounader believed ratepayers were long overdue for some respite from city hall with local government elections also on the horizon. We subsidise housing and accommodation that provide high level care services to people with special needs. A friendly reminder that your third instalment of rates is due this week (Friday, February 28) To learn more about the rates process visit . Governance resources of the Local Government Act 2020 and related Acts, policies and legislation. Planning applications on public exhibition, Wodonga's economy, demographic and population. All rights reserved. d e mo g r a p h i c s. page 16 A more simplified social housing system that brings public housing and community housing under the one roof. ABN 63277 160 265. In 2022-23, depending on water usage, most customers across Victoria will pay more than they paid in 2021-22. 0 "Wodonga's mayor and senior management never fully apologised to their community for the under-handed rate gouging. Property owners already receiving the Municipal Rates Concession from their councils will automatically receive a concession of $50 on their Fire Services Property Levy assessment. The spiralling cost of owning a rateable property in Wodonga is symptomatic of a 20-year trend that has seen Victorian councils overtake their NSW counterparts as the nations biggest rate collectors. ABN 63277 160 265. Mayoral Minute. If you object to a valuation, you still must pay rates by the due date. OK. . Council rates (on the card holder's principal residence). For more information about the Fires Services Property Levy visit the fire levy website. Fifty five years We want you to be involved in helping guide the council's planning and decision-making for your city. Each council collects rates from residents and businesses in its municipality to help fund local infrastructure and services. 1999-2023 Wodonga Council. All children deserve to grow up feeling safe, supported and loved. We are committed to ending family violence in Victoria. . # Towong Shire Council and West Wimmera Shire Council were both successful in their applications to the Essential Services Commission (ESC) in 2017/18 for multiple year higher caps. GWNj=g>;`,x{ Y wV,UCo93Bv=:ZeztD/+;bk53Nj JqfL6 ! In 2021-22, the maximum is $247.00. Supports the partnerships between the Department of Health & Human Services, Department of Education and Training and the organisations they fund. Council can provide a free rubbish collection from the site you have registered. ABN 63277 160 265. Recent population growth in the town means that the annual take from council rates and charges has almost tripled since 2002/3 to $38 million. Deaf, hearing or speech impaired? Supported residential services provide accommodation and support for people who need help with everyday activities. Rates: Property taxes that allow council to raise revenue to fund public services. Wodonga is strategically placed between Melbourne and Sydney on the Hume Highway. In 2013/14, Albury council levied average rates and charges of $1353 on around 21,000 ratepayers, while Wodonga, on average, slugged its residents a hefty $2107. Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, Ministerial Statement on local government, Victorian Local Government Grants Commission, Rural Councils ICT Infrastructure Support Program, Electoral Representation Advisory Panels (ERAPs), Victorian State-Local Government agreement, Victorian Aboriginal and Local Government Strategy, Engaging with the Local Government Sector, Rural & Regional Councils Sustainability Reform, Free from Violence Local Government Program 2022 - 2025, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. 2020-21 municipal rates and charges = $800. Signature Date / / The impact of COVID-19 on the economy is indisputable, but the pandemic has also created some unforeseen savings for the council with its major calendar of events an obvious victim due to strict social distancing rules still in place for the foreseeable future. hbbd``b`$. A website that makes it easier to find the right information about housing and housing assistance in Victoria. . eco n omy. Late rate payments and unpaid rates generally attract an interest charge. Council rates and charges. Only qualified valuers professionals holding recognised tertiary qualifications and with the required practical experience can perform municipal valuations. The Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria, their ongoing connection to this land and we pay our respects to their culture and their Elders past, present and future. endstream endobj 1754 0 obj <>stream You can do research, attend a seminar, hear your favourite author speak and bring your kids to story time. Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. For an application (or request) to amend or end a Section 173 Agreement under Section 178 of the Act. Ms Glass said while the council's practice had been in place long before the statewide introduction of rate capping in 2016, the . Residential ratepayers pay the majority of Wodonga City Council's rates and charges. Victorians have available benefits to help with the cost of education from kindergarten through to adult education. . Join the conversation with your fellow The New Daily readers and see their replies. Complete the form and send it to this departmentat the address listed on the form. ABN 63277 160 265. We support young people at risk of becoming homeless to stay connected to family, friends and school. Or Address: 50 Lonsdale Street This will be listed and explained on your rates notice. The Living Libraries Infrastructure Program helps Victorian councils and regional library corporations to provide high-quality library infrastructure to meet their communities changing needs. Creating pathways to self-determination for Aboriginal Victorians through partnerships with Local Government and the Victorian Government. How rates are determined: The Wodonga Rating Strategy 2019. The rate increase freeze means the council will forego around $800,000 in additional expenditure in a move no doubt welcomed by ratepayers who have been subjected to multiple 7 per cent hikes in recent memory. "They could have dug a little bit deeper into their reserves. That might surprise most people because there are many thousands more ratepayers in NSW and the stock of residential and commercial land across the state is larger and more valuable than in Victoria.