Tumby Bay and Port Neill Jetties Consultation
Council is seeking ratepayer input regarding the establishment of a levy component (Levy) to fund the Tumby Bay and Port Neill jetties.
A council may declare a general rate* or a separate rate on rateable land within the area of the council for the purpose of carrying out, maintaining or improving an activity that is, or is intended to be, of particular benefit to the land, or the occupiers of the land, or to visitors to the area. Either a general rate or separate rate will achieve a similar outcome and is, for the purposes of this consultation, referred to as a Levy.
Consultation
It is important that ratepayers in the District Council of Tumby Bay, are given an opportunity to indicate if they are willing to pay a Levy component equivalent to a between 10% and 15% increase in general rates to reinstate the Tumby Bay jetty (Project) and provide maintenance to both the Tumby Bay jetty and Port Neill jetty (Jetties) ongoing. If accepted, the Levy would be added to the rates on top of the current rates and charges.
Please note that there is no ‘opt in’ or ‘opt out’ scenario; if the Tumby Bay jetty is to be reinstated, and both Jetties maintained to the requisite standard into the future then every ratepayer will be making a considerable financial contribution toward the Jetties, for both the annual operational costs (for the ongoing maintenance of the Jetties) and the repayment of any loan funds required to fund the Project.
Council anticipates that the expenditure required to reopen and maintain the Tumby Bay jetty is of a level that could impact on the capacity of the Council to fund other key services and assets in the future without further general rate increases. The indicative Project values for the options that have been considered by Council are significant both in immediate capital cost and in long term lifecycle costs for the Jetties.
We assure you that ‘no stone has been left unturned’ and the endeavours to find a long-term and financially sustainable solution for our community is supported by robust research, modelling, and analysis.
There has been significant public and media interest in the Jetties from the closure of the Tumby Bay jetty, and now is the time for you to make an important contribution towards Council’s decision-making process.
Survey
Council has authorised a survey to be sent to each owner of each rateable property within the Council area. Due to the significant rate increase required, each rateable property is entitled to one (1) survey response.
Ratepayers are being asked to consider whether they support Council applying a Levy component for the Jetties. Where a ratepayer has answered YES to the initial question, they are asked to identify which option, with respect to the replacement or refurbishment of the Tumby Bay Jetty, they support. Only ONE option should be checked.
The survey form must be returned to Council prior to 28 March 2024. This will enable the responses to be considered by Council at its 4 April 2024 meeting and for the outcome of the survey to be included in Council’s Long Term Financial Plan and Annual Business Plan that will then be released for further public consultation.
Drop-in session
Mayor Geoff Churchett will be available to answer your questions about the Jetties, and any other matters of interest to you, at a “Conversations with the Mayor” public drop-in session at the Council Chambers on Wednesday 20 March 2024. We invite you to attend anytime between 3pm and 5pm. [P(ease be aware that discussions held at this session will be taken into consideration when a final decision is to be made, however, responses to the survey must be submitted on the official form).
FAQs and costs associated with options
Should you wish to understand the costs associated with the options being considered by ratepayers in the survey please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions below:
*Council programs and services in South Australia are funded predominately by council rates. Council rates are a form of property tax, not a fee for service. The Council receives very limited revenue from other income sources (such as grants), as such, rates are the only mechanism to raise the additional capital required to fund the Project.
Further information
For further information on the jetties in the district go to www.tumbybay.sa.gov.au/community/recreation-and-tourism/jetties