The Baillieu Government should support local councils to defer the next instalment of rates and charges for flood-affected ratepayers, Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said today.
Mr Andrews said the Coalition Government should provide a financial buffer to affected councils which would enable them to offer residents a deferral of the next instalment of payments.
“Councils can defer payment of rates and charges for those in hardship under provisions in the Local Government Act,” Mr Andrews said.
“We know that thousands of families and individuals in flood-affected communities are facing great difficulty as they go about rebuilding their homes.
“Many of them will be under tremendous financial pressure as the cost of recovery becomes apparent.
“The Government needs to ensure those people who are accessing flood assistance don’t have that money swallowed up by the next instalment of local rates and charges, which are due soon.
“Those paying rates by lump sum must pay by 15 February, while the next instalment of quarterly payments is due on 28 February.
“Councils have expressed the desire to do the right thing by their ratepayers and Premier Ted Baillieu can make sure they are in a position to offer this deferral by ensuring councils have the financial capacity to do so.”
Mr Andrews called on the Baillieu Government to implement a range of other measures to help flood-affected communities, including:
- Supporting farmers by appointing local boundary-fencing co-ordinators;
- Supporting local government by providing teams of engineers and other experts surveyors to assess the extent of damage done to roads and other public infrastructure, such as bridges, and community facilities;
- Building on the $5 million Local Government Clean-up Fund, to ensure councils have the necessary support to clean septic tanks, protect against mosquito-borne diseases and provide further support for farmers with stranded livestock.
Mr Andrews yesterday called on the Baillieu Government to provide further details of a proposed review into the floods, including a guarantee that affected communities would have a say.