Less than a month from an election victory the New South Wales government is on a revenue raising spree. They are careful not to hike direct taxes which would be noticed but have undertaken a back door approach - which will still hit citizens in their hip pockets.
Wollongong Council runs an efficient waste disposal facility - commonly known as " the tip " at Whyte's Gully." Waste is quickly covered by Breckitt's slag to prevent unpleasant odours and to keep flies and seagulls away. In the past, this material has been exempt from the Department of Environment and Conservation ( DEC ) levy.
The government has now decreed that from March 1 this slag will attract the levy.
The council uses 7800 tonnes of slag monthly and the levy - at $ 32.65 a tonne - will increase tip costs by $ 3.066 million a year.
Obviously tip fees - presently at $ 20 a trailer load - will rise, but the weekly pickup by a council contractor will also be affected. This contract is included in council rates and residents can therefore expect council to try and hike rates to cover the extra cost.
This is the sort of back door tax increase that fuels inflation and leads to rises in interest rates. When tip fees rise they increase the cost to butchers, supermarkets and other traders who rely on council facilities to get rid of their waste.
There is absolutely no excuse for slapping a levy on material to keep a tip in a sanitary condition - except the excesses of a greedy government !
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