Great divide among businesses

BUSINESS rates were the hot agenda item at Clarence Valley Council’s ordinary meeting in Maclean on Tuesday night.

Council officers recommended council move to a single rate structure for businesses across the Valley, following complaints from Grafton and South Grafton business owners about the inequity.

Last week, council’s civil and corporate committee voted to defer the matter to a budget workshop in December.

This week, councillors agreed, but then leapt into passionate debate, which split councillors down lower/upper river lines.

Councillor Ian Tiley proposed a motion – which was carried five-to-four – that council not support the officer’s recommendation. He was not able to be contacted for comment yesterday.

Councillor Ian Dinham supported Cr Tiley saying he preferred ‘differential rating’ and that cost shifting from one part of the Valley to another needed to be avoided.

“We’ve previously investigated many different scenarios to achieve the best outcome for our Valley and we have already reduced the Grafton area rate yield by a million dollars since the amalgamation,” he said.

Councillor Craig Howe strongly disagreed, stating the Valley already had parity in water, sewerage and waste collection rates.

He went on to say it was unfair that a Grafton business valued at $150,000 paid $2776 in rates, whereas a business in Maclean paid just $1138, and only $848 in the tourist mecca of Yamba.

“This issue is causing divide in the Clarence Valley community and needs to be addressed in a real way that achieves a fair outcome for all businesses,” he said.