By JESSE GRAHAM
A YARRA Ranges resident is putting the spotlight on council expenditure, drawing hundreds into a Facebook group and preparing a run for next year’s council elections.
Woori Yallock resident, Jeff Leake, is the administrator for the Facebook group, Shire of Yarra Ranges Council Reform Group – where members can air their grievances and discuss solutions to issues with the council.
In an interview with the Mail, Mr Leake – who has run for office in state and federal elections – said there were three main issues he wanted to focus on with the council: rates, waste and permits.
He said that, in his opinion, council rates should not increase at all, the council should take over control of its waste transfer stations and lower tipping prices, and permit application times should be shorter.
However, the council currently leases its transfer stations to Knox Transfer Station, and prices are influenced by the EPA’s landfill levy.
When asked if taking back ownership of the transfer stations would be incompatible with lower rates, Mr Leake said the council could trim their budget elsewhere.
“It’s incredibly complex, there’s no argument there whatsoever,” he said.
“The governments are not short of money, they’re just not spending it wisely – the essential services, kinders, parks and maintenance, street maintenance, all this is really the essential stuff, they should absolutely put it as a priority.”
He claimed that cutting the wages of the council’s CEO and council’s community grants programs would also find savings in the budget.
Mr Leake said he was organising a public meeting for residents to raise their concerns with council, and would also encourage people to stand for next year’s council election in every ward.
Chandler Ward councillor and deputy mayor, Jason Callanan said that he had seen the group himself, and while he empathised with their view, said council was often in a “balancing act” with its budget.
“I’ve had a look at the comments on there, and I would have agreed with a lot of those comments prior to getting into council,” he said.
“There are things I didn’t even know, and opened my eyes to understand the complexity of council – it’s not as simple as just lowering rates.
“Something small moved here can create massive waves in another area, and it’s very much a balancing act.”
He added that the council’s main revenue came from a “fixed sum” of rates, rather than from parking fees and fines.
Cr Callanan said he encouraged passionate residents to run for the October 2016 council elections.
“Everybody can have a go and I’d encourage people to run,” he said.
“The more they want to get involved in the community, the better.”
Yarra Ranges CEO, Glenn Patterson said he would “welcome the opportunity” to attend a community meeting held by Mr Leake.
Mr Patterson said his wage was the “average” for Victorian category one local councils, which is surveyed annually by the State Government, and defended the council’s current budget use.
“Yarra Ranges Council manages its budget responsibly and is committed to delivering value for money for ratepayers,” he said in a written statement.
“The funding program assists community groups to undertake exciting local projects and initiatives developed by, and run for, our local communities,” he said.
Mr Patterson said the council’s rate increase of 3.3 per cent for the 2015-’16 financial year was “well below the real cost increase” for the council, and required “significant operational savings” to fill the difference.
“If rates were not increased at all there would be enormous cuts to capital works and services provided,” he said.
Council rate increases will be capped at the consumer price index (CPI) as of next financial year, though councils can appeal this to the Essential Services Commission.
