Farmers say they are “disgusted” that Wattle Range Council is looking to raise rates at a time when the rural community is suffering hardship.
Community submissions were tabled at a special council meeting last week called to consider public feedback on the draft 2024/25 Budget.
Penola farmer Rosalie Skeer claimed the council had a total lack of empathy for their plight.
Writing on behalf of the family partnership, Ms Skeer said the lack of rain meant farmers were doing it tough: financially, physically and mentally.
“We are experiencing the driest autumn and winter on record which has resulted in very little, if any, pasture for grazing animals,” Ms Skeer said.
“On our farm we had good reserves of hay and grain for our stock for a typical season but we have had to spend tens of thousands of dollars just to keep them alive and with no prospect of having fat stock to sell.
“The time involved in constantly feeding hungry stock along with the mental health aspect and daily grind is taking its toll on all our farmers.”
Ms Skeer some property owners were taking a gamble by dry seeding in the hope of sufficient rain eventually.
She said 13 consecutive interest rate rises in the past two years had placed a burden on farmers as well as a dramatic fall in livestock prices.
“In short, all farmers have had a dramatic fall in their income and a huge increase in their workload and expenditure,” she said.
In conclusion, Ms Skeer urged the council to review the rates payable by the rural sector and make provision for hardship cases given the toughest season on record.
Councillor Emma Castine said the council already had a hardship policy in place and asked for it to be promoted via newspapers, council’s website and social media channels.
Cr John Drew said he sympathised with the Skeers.
“We do not raise rates without cause,” Cr Drew said.
“A catch-up in rate revenue was inevitable and essential.”
Cr Dale Price said he understood the perspective of the Skeer family and council was faced with a balancing act.
“I had preferred another rating option,” he said.
In reply to a query from Cr Castine, council chief executive Ben Gower explained the shifting of the rate burden from the residential to the rural sector.
Mr Gower said Wattle Range Council had not increased its rate revenue in two of the recent COVID-impacted years.
There were four other written and verbal submissions regarding the draft 2024/25 budget but none of the others referred to rates.
Council is set to ratify the 2024/25 Budget at its July 9 meeting.
The draft budget indicates council rate revenue will increase by almost 7% in the upcoming financial year.
