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Forum circulates anti SRV petition

Geoff Helisma The Clarence Forum has launched a petition against Clarence Valley Council’s proposal to apply to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Authority (IPART) for a 25.97 per cent over three years – 2017/18 to 2020/21. The principal petitioner and organiser Annie Dodd (front right) said the petition will be sent to IPART for its information when considering CVC’s application for an SRV – if in fact a decision is made to do so. “Council has rejected alternatives to the special rates increases, and council has poorly explained the impact of the rates increases to the local community,” Ms Dodd said in a media release. She said she is aiming to double the 2,500 signatures collected by forum members when CVC applied for a 37 per cent SRV over four years – IPART subsequently approved a 6.5 per cent SRV levied for 2016/17 only. “Copies of the petition are available at local stores and businesses throughout the valley,” Ms Dodd said. The forum is an advocacy and discussion group that maintains that “all levels of government need to be accountable and transparent especially when it comes to public money.