LEETON resident Jeanine Bird is concerned residents will be swindled out of their hard-earned money thanks to a new fee.
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Leeton Shire Council will be formalising its 2018-19 budget, annual operations plan and revenue policy, which includes fees and charges at its monthly meeting on Wednesday.
Included in this are new fees and charges relating to reticulated sewer services.
In a letter to property owners on May 25, council said it was needing to catch up with its legal obligations, hence an increase in fees for onsite sewerage management facilities.
“Following the Wallis Lake hepatitis outbreak in 1997, the state government introduced amendments to the Local Government Act, making it an obligation for councils to better supervise septic installations and other OSSM systems,” the letter read.
“Council is obligated to require the owners of non-sewered parcels of land with toilets or other improvements to seek an ‘approval to operate’ OSSM systems whereas previously only an installation approval was required.
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“Council is needing to catch up with its legal obligations, which has prompted a review of operations, as well as fees and charges.”
In some instances fees will be rising by hundreds of dollars, leaving residents like Mrs Bird not happy.
“Council's letter seeks to build a data-base of septic suspects to swindle,” she said.
“This is for people not on the town sewer system, who are on the outskirts of town and on farms, who amazingly, have always managed their own septics without any help from council.
“Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the council sewerage system often stinks terribly, so one has to wonder why on earth they want to practice on septics.
“Of course, in true ‘yes minister’ style, it's really all about fees and charges.
“Or, if you like, a fiscal detox of your thunder-box.”
Council will be making a final decision on the matter at its ordinary meeting on Wednesday night at its chambers, which Mrs Bird said she would be attending.
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