Vol. No. Vol. 2618No. 5027
FREE PUBLICATION
A FREE PUBLICATION FROM YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS 3WM AND MIXXFM
Wednesday, January 13, 2024 2016 Wednesday, June 26,
HAPPILY EVER AFTER: Horsham College students are deep into rehearsals for their annual production – they will stage Snow White on August 15, 16 and 17 at Horsham Town Hall. Students across various departments are having strong input into the production, from making mood boards, to creating, sketching and constructing steampunk-style hats for costumes, and more. Pictured is Paige Millar as Snow White and Henry Overman as Prince Florian, with dwarfs, from left, Annabelle Gregor, Amara Crooks, Zoe Brennan, Amelia Altmann, Indy Webb, Casey Westmoreland and Clara Shirrefs at rehearsals. Story, page 17. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Waste fees released
H
BY LAUREN HENRY
orsham Rural City Council will increase its fees and charges for waste management by at least six per cent in 2024-25. Council released a register of fees and charges at its Monday night meeting – they are usually announced as part of council’s annual Budget but given the delay in releasing the 2024-25 budget, councillors opted to immediately make the information public. The increases mean the urban bin service will increase $30; rural bin service $19; and commercial
bin service $39. Most waste-management fees at Dooen landfill will increase at least six per cent including loads up to three tonnes by $42; and loads above three tonnes by $14. The Budget will now be released at council’s July 22 meeting after the council requested an extension from Local Government Minister Melissa Horne. Chief executive Sunil Bhalla, who was absent from the monthly council meeting on Monday night, last week blamed a new finance management system for the delay.
Corporate services director Kim Hargreaves told Monday night’s council meeting the rating differentials would also be confirmed as part of the revenue and rating plan 2021-2025, with the updates for 2024-25 also being presented at the July 22 meeting. “The plan had to be updated as the difference in the valuation where the increase or decrease between the general differential rate category and another differential rate category has reached 3.5 percent following the general revaluation of properties ... trigger
for review of differentials in the revenue and rating plan,” she said. Council adopted the Horsham Rural City Council Register of Fees and Charges for 2024-2025 at its May meeting, where it was noted the fees and charges provided were based on information available at the time. Councillors were also told that Environment Protection Authority, EPA, waste levies had increased in the State Budget, released earlier in May, and that officers were still calculating some of the associated fees.
At Monday night’s council, three
councillors – David Bowe, Claudia Haenel and Bob Redden – voted against the motion to approve the waste charges. Cr Bowe said there was insufficient detail, data and justification for the waste management hikes. “Our community deserves full transparency on how these fees are calculated and why they are necessary,” he said.
IN THIS ISSUE • AgLife • Police operation uses drone • National competition for gymnasts Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
AUDITED: 21,534 COPIES October 2022 to September 2023
Source: AMAA; CAB Total Distribution Audit for further information visit www.auditedmedia.org.au
Continued page 3