00:02Among the crowds at the Murrum-Bateland Field Day, Yass Valley Council speaks to locals
00:07about its proposed 76 per cent rate rise over four years, a move narrowly passed during
00:13a council meeting on Wednesday.
00:15The plan to help raise the $8.3 million needed to keep it operating, angering many residents.
00:21How can you be that financially responsible?
00:24With already the cost of living is difficult, it's just going to add a lot more pressure.
00:29I haven't got any time for it, he has councillors.
00:31While others say the decision was inevitable.
00:34We need to raise the rate somehow, the council's not viable as it is.
00:38In the meeting, Councillor Alvaro Carrey called for the New South Wales Government to intervene.
00:44We're at a point where the situation is so dire that we should call voluntarily for ministerial
00:50intervention and that's what my foreshadowed motion calls for.
00:54He says the community are expressing anger and discontent at the council, especially
00:59with ongoing cost of living pressures.
01:01There are those that are barely just living above a means that they can put food on the
01:06table and pay their bills and they're the ones that I really, really worry about the most.
01:10A number of residents from smaller towns within the council told the ABC they're annoyed a
01:14possible rate rise won't benefit them, saying a new council building has been prioritised
01:20over increasing access to drinking water and rubbish collection.
01:24We don't have any services there in the real sense except the road.
01:28$50 million on new council changes is more important than giving fresh water to the town
01:33people, you know.
01:33It's a joke.
01:35Consultation will continue for six weeks.
01:36Consultation will continue for six weeks.
