A 45.3 per cent cumulative rate rise over four years is now locked in for the Wingecarribee Shire.

The first increase will come into effect from July this year.

The announcement has come as part of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (Ipart) determinations on Council applications for Special Rate Variations.

Windgecarribee is one of 12 councils across the State to apply for the Future Local Government Reform program.

Wingecarribee got permission for the rate rises above the recommended limit as it was “able to demonstrate a need for the additional revenue, had appropriately engaged with the community about the increases, and are taking steps to improve productivity and contain costs.”

The increased rate income will provide additional funding to support ongoing maintenance of community assets such as roads, footpaths and drains.

MOSS VALE

Moss Vale has been earmarked for a new Woolworths Supermarket.

The supermarket giant has lodged a development application to construct a store on the corner of Lackey Road and the Illawarra Highway (the site of the old Central Hotel).

The proposal is for a two-storey building which would include a supermarket and liquor store on the first level, and specialty retail tenancies on the ground floor.

MARULAN

Marulan district residents have accused a major quarry operator of seeking to expand its operations “on the cheap” at the community’s expense.

Goulburn Mulwaree Council has called on the developer, Gunlake Quarry, for more detail and consultation.

Gunlake Quarry, located on Brayton Road, Marulan, has applied to the State Planning Department to boost their output from 750,000 to 2 million tonnes per year over 30 years.

Residents are up in arms over the 440 trucks (up to 660) that would be needed to transport the material to the Sydney market, 24 hours a day – an increase of 276 trucks a day on the Brayton Road, which is also a bus route.

GOULBURN

The majority of jobs at Goulburn Railway Station will remain after negotiations between a union on management.

A booking office position will go and ten hours will be cut across a week, but the station will be staffed until midnight each day.

Goulburn MP Pru Goward, who was invited to discussions between NSW Trainlink and the NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union said she was pleased with the outcome.

YASS

Yass Valley Council General Manager David Rowe has described the approval for a special Rate Variation above the standard limit as “guaranteeing a bright future for the Valley.”

The Council has received approval for four consecutive rate rises of 8.5 per cent from this July.

This equates to a cumulative increase of 38.6 per cent over the next four years – an increase that will be retained in the rate base.

It will generate an additional $5.3 million over the next four years, providing funds for investment in infrastructure, community projects and maintaining service levels.

BOOROWA

The South West Slopes Shooters Club has received approval for its new shooting range, six kilometres from Boorowa township.

The Club comes under the umbrella of the Shooters Union of Australia.

Chairman Mike Crockford said that the range location well away from the township meant that noise will never be a problem, but was close enough for overnight stays and access to food, fuel and shopping.

“We hope that the range will draw further shooters into town and Boorowa as a whole will benefit from extra visitors,” Mr. Crockford said.