Casey Council budget deferred to negotiate State Government's $14.5 million offer for landfill remediation
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EmailMEDIA RELEASE: 23 June 2010
Casey Council last night voted to defer adoption of the 2010-11 Council Budget in order to provide the opportunity to negotiate with the State Government on its $14.5 million formal offer to assist in the remediation of the Stevensons Road closed landfill.
The Council resolved to acknowledge the State Government’s offer of $14.5 million, in addition to its earlier contribution of $3 million provided by the EPA in 2008, and the minimum it would accept would be $20.5 million (including the original $3 million).
A revised budget, based on a State Government offer of $17.5 million will be prepared for consideration at a Special Council meeting on 13 July 2010.
As part of this decision, Council also resolved to remove the fighting fund if an agreement with the State Government is reached, reduce the rates to reflect the State Government contribution and accept, in principle, extending the loan period to 20 years subject to a finally agreed settlement.
City of Casey Mayor Cr Lorraine Wreford said ‘the fact that the State Government has finally put an offer of $14.5 million on the table is a positive step forward for our community’.
If the State Government provides the $17.5 million minimum offer, Casey rates in 2010-11 would be reduced from 11.69% to approximately 8.3%.
Council also resolved to not accept a condition limiting its right to undertake any legal action against the State Government in the future.