SOUTH East farmers have welcomed changes to the NRM Board’s proposed land levy calculation method for 2016-17, from a capital value method to fixed rate assessment based on land use.
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They feared a levy based on capital value could have had them paying up to thousands of dollars more than the present $42 per rateable property. But in the plan released this week, it is $175.
They are still frustrated about the state government’s water planning and management cost recovery through the NRM Boards – $2.2 million from the SE – and lack of transparency of these costs.
SENRM board presiding member Frank Brennan said there was strong opposition to the capital value calculation method during the consultation period.
Instead the board recommended a levy based on land use. Residential properties will pay about $60 a year, commercial properties $110/yr and farming businesses $175/yr.
“This method reflects that some landowners receive greater NRM benefits from the levy dollars spent, but reduces the impact on landowners that are asset rich and income poor,” he said.
The board is proposing to retain the NRM water levy calculated on a fixed charge of $200, plus a rate for each megalitre of allocation.
Mid South East Irrigators Association say a flat rate is fairer, but they still oppose any increase.
“We do not think the department should be passing these costs incurred outside the region without a detailed review of how they were arrived at,” secretary Josh Hancock said.
He said licence holders, especially those with multiple licences, and landholders with multiple assessments still faced large increases.
Primary Producers SA NRM chair Fiona Rasheed said for the NRM system to work well, regional boards must listen to local landholders, and was encouraged that the consultation had been effective in this case.
The cost pressures imposed on the board and on regional levy payers due to the Water Planning and Management cost-recovery initiative of Environment Minister Ian Hunter remained a concern.
“More transparency is needed from DEWNR in Adelaide so local landholders can understand the WPMC which form a significant portion of SE NRM Board levy expenditure,” Ms Rasheed said. “Landholders need to understand where their levy contributions are going and that the spending on WPM activities is efficient.”
