No more rates relief for drought-struck Coorong farmers
The council has ended an SA-first payment deferral program for primary producers affected by drought.
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The Coorong council has ended a program which provided relief from property rates bills to farmers and businesses suffering through this year’s drought.
Since June, the council had allowed primary producers and agricultural businesses to defer paying their property rates – a South Australian first.
Fifteen producers had accessed the support prior to the council’s meeting on Tuesday, deferring rates bills which totalled almost $550,000 – about four per cent of the council’s rate revenue.
But councillors voted this week to end that support, effective immediately.
The scheme had been devised at a time when councillors had expected the state government to provide similar support, negating the financial impact on the council, Councillor Jeff Arthur said.
That had never happened, and no other council had ended up offering similar support.
Besides, Cr Mick O’Hara said, farmers were reaping surprisingly good crops, and cattle and sheep prices were at an all-time high.
Only Cr Lisa Rowntree voted to continue the drought support.
Conditions might be good around Meningie, she said, but Mallee farmers were still struggling with poor crops and unexpected expenses.
“They don’t want to (defer their rates), but they want the option there as a safety net,” she said.
She ended up on the losing side of a 4-1 vote.
The support was ended on December 16, with a 30-day grace period for late applications.
- Apply for a rates postponement: www.coorong.sa.gov.au.
- Get help: Visit pir.sa.gov.au or call 1800 931 314.
