East Pilbara to raise rates

Shire of East Pilbara residents are set to pay 3 per cent more in rates from the end of this financial year.

The Shire’s own financial long-term plan had set down a 4 per cent rise, but officers said sound financial management had allowed for a smaller rise.

The Shire received no submissions about the proposed rate in the dollar for either the gross rental value rating or unimproved value rating categories during the 21-day public consultation period.

Councillors unanimously approved the officers’ recommendation to proceed to the next step in seeking ministerial approval for the new differential rates categories. The gross rental value categories of industrial, town centre, transient workforce and others will now have a minimum payment of $663, while GRV in Nullagine townsite will be a minimum payment of $265.

In the unimproved value categories, the minimum payment in the AML leases, mining leases, general leases, petroleum leases, exploration leases and prospecting leases will have a minimum payment of $300, while pastoral and special leases will have a minimum payment of $230.

If approved by the minister for local government, the rating model will raise $11.5 million in the 2017-18 financial year.