July 1, 2010

AMALGAMATION SAVINGS BENEFIT MORETON BAY RATEPAYERS

50% of owner occupied residential ratepayers to get a reduction in general rates Moreton Bay Regional Councils proven ability to achieve ongoing amalgamation savings has delivered its average owner occupied residential ratepayer the best rating outcome in Queensland. Mayor Allan Sutherland said councils multi-million dollar operational savings were having a direct effect on rates. The average change in general rates for residential owner occupied properties is a decrease of around 3.4 per cent, Mayor Sutherland said. Fifty per cent of Moreton Bays owner occupied residential ratepayers will receive a reduction in their general rate compared to last year. That means one out of every two owner occupied ratepayers who live in houses will notice a decrease in their general rates. A further 43 per cent of Moreton Bays owner occupied residential ratepayers will receive an increase of less than $2 a week. Overall this is a strong outcome, achieved after just two years and few months of this council. It is made all the more extraordinary given that many of the goods and services we rely on to provide council services and facilities to the community have experienced significant cost hikes. Moreton Bay Regional Council Australias third largest council - adopted its 2010/11 budget this morning. Mayor Sutherland said besides containing plenty of region-building capital works and projects, the budget clearly conveyed the strong financial credentials of Moreton Bay Regional Council. Our financial strength and more specifically our ability to cut costs whilst continuing to provide our community with the services and facilities they expect is delivering real benefits to ratepayers and the local community, Mayor Sutherland said. During 2010/11 this councils savings per annum since amalgamation will be $25 million.

These savings are a direct result of amalgamation. They are being achieved by eliminating duplication and streamlining processes. From our perspective, the savings to date are just the beginning. The 2010/11 to 2012/13 budget contains $75 million in accumulative amalgamation savings. Mayor Allan Sutherland said the budget was the most significant in 130 years of local government in the region. The 2010/11 budget heralds the introduction of one regional rating policy for all Moreton Bay ratepayers and therefore is an important milestone in our amalgamation journey, Mayor Sutherland said. Its also a budget that continues to honour what has always been this councils core promise to the community - to ensure the amalgamated Moreton Bay Regional Council is working for them. Mayor Sutherland said Moreton Bay Regional Councils savings success had allowed it to fund a $35 million two-year water subsidy to help residents adapt to new water arrangements. The subsidy, which will be provided to all water customers, is the only one of its type in Queensland, Mayor Sutherland said. In 2010/11, we will provide all water customers with a 50 per cent subsidy on any increase in their water and sewerage access charges. We have always said we want to be a caring and compassionate council. We feel we have an obligation to share the amalgamation savings with our community, to help it adjust to the biggest reform of water services in Queenslands history. ENDS Robert Draycott Media, Marketing and Communications Unit Tel: 3480 6436