CityCARE
In 2010 the Minister for Local Government approved Queanbeyan City Council’s application for a 5.8% Special Rate Variation for an initial period of three years. This variation allows Council to raise an extra $1.04 million in rates for three years to fund maintenance and renewal of Council’s roads, footpaths and parks and sports fields.
Council developed a three-year works program and in 2011-2012 it is proposed that $1.01 million will be spent on asset maintenance and renewal. These works include:
- Bitumen resealing - local roads $165,000
- Pavement rehabilitation - local roads $350,000
- Footpath repairs $196,760
- Cassinia Park - replace equipment and softfall $35,000
- Railway Park - replace soft fall, upgrade equipment $35,000
- Blundell Park - upgrade amenities $75,000
- Showground - upgrade water supply $45,000
- Halloran Dr - erosion control, grass cover on banks $25,000
- Wright Park - upgrade lower amenities $75,000
The first year of the CityCARE program ended on 30 June 2011 and saw $984,000 spent on repairing and renewing Queanbeyan’s roads, footpaths and parks and sportsfields. The following works occurred during the 2010-2011 financial year:
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Bitumen resealing of 18 local roads - $349,000
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Pavement rehabilitation of three local roads - $117,000
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Repair of 758 footpath defects - $204,000
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Upgrade of playground at Queanbeyan Park, including installation of shade structure - $175,000
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Upgrade of amenities at Steve Mauger Park - $74,000
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Stabilise and level playing surfaces at Wright Park - $50,000
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Upgrade soft fall at Stockyard Creek Park - $15,000
Before submitting its application Council agreed that if successful it would introduce an additional pensioner rebate to assist the more vulnerable in the community. The additional rebate was set at a maximum of $40 per year for those whose rates have risen and are eligible to receive the NSW Pensioner Rebate. The regular pensioner rebate scheme provides pensioners with rate concessions up to a maximum of $250 and rebates of up to $87.50 each on water and sewerage charges - where councils provide these services. In 2010-2011 the CityCARE levy raised an extra $1.048 million with $984,000 spent on asset maintenance and renewal and $64,000 worth of pensioner rebates were provided.