Property rates are still too high, Murray Bridge residents tell their council

A rate cut included in the city council’s draft budget for 2022-23 doesn’t go far enough, a handful of residents say.

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Council rates in Murray Bridge are still too high, a handful of ratepayers say. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Murray Bridge residents aren’t happy that their property rates bills will go up this year.

The city’s council plans to lower the rate in the dollar paid by property owners, but not enough, judging by public comments on the council’s draft budget for 2022-23.

Of the 10 people who sent feedback to the council, eight demanded better value for money.

One said she was “horrified” at a $35 increase in the minimum rate payable; another said high rates were “keeping our community disadvantaged”.

A Sunnyside property owner said “all we get is a rubbish pick-up – not nearly good enough, is it?”

A spokesman for nearby Murrawong residents said they felt ignored by the council, since the draft budget had not provided for the sealing of Murrawong Road.

Residents would lobby candidates at the upcoming council election for a better deal, he said.

Still, one Murray Bridge resident said he supported efforts to unlock residential land in the city’s west and south for subdivision, which would “allow people to retire and not be dependent on the government”.

Doug Issell, pictured at a meeting on Monday night, looks forward to working with the Murray Bridge council; some other ratepayers are not so keen. Image: Rural City of Murray Bridge/YouTube.

City needs to be made safer for women and a destination for cyclists, speakers say

Centacare’s Megan Hughes asked the council to consider doing more to make Murray Bridge a safer place for women – mostly – who were enduring domestic violence.

That could include:

• Better lighting in parks and along paths

• Phone boxes in every neighbourhood

• Signs declaring that violence would not be tolerated in Murray Bridge

It could also include affirmative action such as leadership programs for disadvantaged women, she said.

Murraylands Cycling Club representative Doug Issell took the opportunity to ask the council to support the club’s plans for a dedicated cycling track in Murray Bridge, somewhere road cyclists could train without having to tangle with traffic.

A track could possibly be built near a proposed BMX track at the back of Sturt Reserve, Mr Issell suggested, at a cost of about $450,000.

The two parties will meet to discuss the proposal in more detail in the coming months.

Ms Hughes and Mr Issell were the only two speakers at a public meeting about the budget on Monday night.

Councillors and staff will make any final changes to the budget before ratifying it at a meeting on June 14.