Council rates put squeeze on homeowners

As homeowners breathe a sigh of relief from yesterday’s interest rate cut, most will feel the pinch when it comes to council rates.

A 7News investigation shows hikes of up to 8 per cent in some areas of South Australia.

Residents in Port Pirie will see the largest increase of 8 per cent, while ratepayers in Walkerville will have to cough up with an extra seven per cent.

“We’ve spent $3 million on a waste segregation facility and putting in a triple bin system,” Port Pirie mayor Brenton Vanstone said.

“The three bins will cost council some $700,000.”

David O’Loughlin from the Local Government Association said: “The cost of collecting waste and dumping it in landfill has gone up and it will go up well above inflation for the next three years.”

Increases in Mt Gambier and Whyalla are around 6 per cent.

Other areas going up are Playford (5.3 per cent), Onkaparinga (4.9), Charles Sturt (4.4) and Tea Tree Gully (4.5).

“Councils don’t buy bananas and milk, they buy bitumen, trucks, and diesel, so that means our CPI is running at 3.7 per cent,” Mr O’Loughlin said.

But city residents have been given a reprieve, with the Adelaide City Council cutting residential rates by 1.4 per cent.

It said a recent surge in property development means in can pass on some relieve.

See how your council compares in our list below.

Council - Residential rate increase (%)
Adelaide City Council -1.4
Adelaide Hills Council 3.8
Alexandrina Council 5.2
Berri Barmera Council 2
The City of Burnside 3.9
Campbelltown City Council 4.95
City of Charles Sturt 4.4
Town of Gawler 5
City of Holdfast Bay 3.7
District Council of Loxton Waikerie 3
City of Marion 5
City of Mitcham 5.1
District Council of Mt Barker 4
City of Mt Gambier 6.1
Rural City of Murray Bridge 4.9
Naracoorte Lucindale Council 2.5
City of Norwood, Payneham & St Peters 4.1
City of Onkaparinga 4.9
City of Playford 5.3
City of Port Lincoln 4
Port Pirie Regional Council 8
City of Prospect 4.58
District Council of Renmark Paringa 5.89
Municipal Council of Roxby Downs N/A
City of Salisbury 4.2
City of Tea Tree Gully 4.5
City of Unley 4.5
Corporation of the Town of Walkerville 7
City of West Torrens 4.5
The Corporation of the City of Whyalla 6
Port Adelaide Enfield 2.57
The Barossa Council 3.3

- Information sourced from council websites (2013/2014 Business Plans) or through conversation with councils.