Stormwater management charge

Content: What is the ‘stormwater management’ charge? | Why was it introduced? | Who will need to pay the charge? | How is the charge calculated? | Where will the charge be spent?

What is the ‘stormwater management’ charge?
Through changes in legislation enacted last year by the state government, councils are now able to collect funds through the rates system to help better manage our urban stormwater systems.

Council’s budget includes funding for floodplain and stormwater management operational and capital works. The new charge will contribute only a fifth (20 percent) of the overall allocation. The breakdown of the budget is shown below:

• Stormwater management charge 20% - 1.6m.
• Grants 36% - 2.9m.
• Council general revenues 44% - 3.6m.

Introducing the charge means Council may be entitled to more Government funding than it would otherwise not be entitled to for important works and projects. 

Why has Wollongong City Council introduced the charge?

• History has shown the City of Wollongong is prone to high rainfall and potential flash flooding. Projects which would be part-funded by the new stormwater management charge are crucial to managing this issue, and to protect our residents and natural assets.
• When the city experiences heavy periods of rain, the local geography means water is transferred to the coastal strip in large quantities very quickly. Because local creek channels are narrow, water often spills onto the limited floodplains around the city. This means we need to commit resources to actively manage our stormwater, not just relying on the natural water courses to carry the water away in times of very heavy rain.
• Through collecting the charge, Council will be able to continue implementing the strategies outlined in the city’s various stormwater management and floodplain management plans. The total cost of implementing all the strategies in these plans exceeds $80 million. 
• The projects which the new charge will fund will have a beneficial effect on our lifestyle, our environment and our properties. Infrastructure will be improved and tasks identified as critical to effective stormwater management in the city will be completed with the assistance of funds collected. Once in place, these measures will work to protect today’s and future residents during flood events.

How were property owners informed about this charge?

• notice of the charge was incorporated into Council’s Corporate Plan 2006-10, the draft of which was publicly exhibited between 2 and 29 May 2006;
• during the period of exhibition, the draft Plan was promoted by way of newspaper advertisements, radio announcements, the Lord Mayor’s column in the Wollongong Advertiser, Community Update columns in the Illawarra Mercury and Northern Leader, Council’s ‘E-news’ service and internet site;
• copies of the draft Plan were made available to the community at Council’s Administration Building, all branch libraries and through 15 community engagement kiosks were which held to gain further community feedback on the document.
  

Who will need to pay the charge?
Those who own ‘rateable’ land classified as ‘residential’ or ‘business’ (including all sub categories) as marked on your rates notice. There are some exceptions, including:

• vacant land (except land containing an impervious surface such as a concrete slab);
• land owned by the Crown;
• land held under a lease for private purposes granted under the Housing Act 2001;
• land covered by the Aboriginal Housing Act 1998.

How is the charge calculated?
For the 2006/07 rating year, the following applies:

• land categorised as residential (not being a strata lot) - $25;
• residential strata lot - $12.50;
• land categorised as business (not being a business strata lot) - $25 per 350 square metres or part-capped at a maximum of $100;
• business strata lot - $25 per 350 square metres or part of the area of land upon which the lot exists, capped at a maximum of $100 and divided by the number of business strata lots on that area of land.

Note: Properties rated as part-residential and part-business (mixed development) will be levied $25.

Strata lot properties with a mix of business and residential rates will be charged as follows:

• residential strata lots - $12.50;
• business strata lot - $25 per 350 square metres or part of the area of land upon which the lot exists, capped at a maximum of $100 and divided by the number of strata lots on that area of land.

Where will the charge be spent?
During the next two years, funds collected will help to complete the following projects:

• review and update existing Stormwater Management Plans;
• clearing of cleaning pits across the city to ensure smooth flow and reduce flooding problems;
• cleaning of Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices (SQIDs) and Gross Pollutant Traps (GPTs) across the city;
• mapping of the city wide urban stormwater network;
• investigation and implementation of drainage system improvements at Cassandra Place and Seaview Crescent, Stanwell Park;
• investigating potential stormwater management initiatives in the Hargrave Creek catchment – Sheridan Crescent and The Drive, Stanwell Park;
• correcting of drainage issues east of Vereker Street – Cabbage Tree Lane, Fairy Meadow;
• drainage improvements along the Princes Highway, Dapto;
• build stormwater reuse facility as part of the Stormwater Reuse Project.