By JONATHON HOWARD
LONGTIME Noosa local and business owner Jeff Nuske said Noosa residents were not seeing the region’s full financial picture and he fears future rate rises are on the horizon.
Mr Nuske was a fierce campaigner against de-amalgamation for fear of losing a financially strong Sunshine Coast Council, as well as concerns about the true costs of de-amalgamation.
“Mayor Playford said prior to de-amalgamation that the total cost of the split would be less than the $13 million suggested by the Queensland Treasury Corp,” Mr Nuske said.
“His figure was initially $2 million, then $3 million and finally no more than $5 million – he even put his house on it,” Mr Nuske said.
“Well it appears we’re still dealing with the true cost today and I’d like to know when he’s handing those keys over.”
Lately, Mayor Playford said that the total cost of de-amalgamation was $2.23 million.
However, Mr Nuske said Noosa residents were only now starting to see the true cost of de-amalgamation, which he said was putting Noosa on a path towards financial hardship.
“I felt like Noosa had a better financial and economic future with the Sunshine Coast Council for many reasons, but not least the fact Noosa has no revenue generating outside of local ratepayers,” he said.
Mr Nuske said Noosa Council’s economic plan did not make sense and he has urged the community and media to pressure council on its “true” financial position.
“Anyone who looks closely at the 2014-’15 Noosa Council Budget will see there’s a $22 million infrastructure’ repairs bill required this financial year, however, Noosa Council has a cash surplus of about $5 million between income/expenses, therefore it begs the question: where is this $22 million, for things such as repairs to Munna Point Bridge and maintenance coming from,” he said.
“In the interest of the Noosa community I’d like to point out that if the $20 million is required to ensure Noosa’s financial viability and it is not forthcoming, it would mean a 22 per cent rate rise for Noosa ratepayers.”
Noosa Today asked Noosa Council to clarify whether ratepayers could expect a rate rise next financial year, however the statement in this edition was all that was provided.
The matter was ongoing.
Have your say: do you think the public have all the information behind the cost of de-amalgamation? Email your thoughts to newsdesk@noosatoday.net.au
