Ratepayers to confront mayor

RATES ISSUES:Havenbrook Village residents (from left) Sue Moczydlowski, Jo Gillett and Adele McAinch will be talking to Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby about rates on Thursday.

Residents of a Pyes Pa lifestyle village are to confront the mayor about why their rates are so high when they pay for their own roading, footpaths and maintenance.

Havenbrook Village residents will meet with Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby tomorrow morning, and representatives from Orange Grove Village, Bridgewater Village and Harbour View Park will also attend the meeting.

The Bay of Plenty Times spoke to three Havenbrook residents who all said they believed their rates were unfairly high as their amenities such as roading, footpaths and maintenance were all paid to a body corporate rather than to the council.

Sue Moczydlowski said the lots in the village were small, ranging between 280 and 320sq m, yet their rates payments were all between $1800 and $2000, or more in some cases.

"The council only manages sewerage and wastewater/drainage. They don't come in here and maintain it, they don't read our water meters individually but just read the joint one at the gate. It's up to us to measure our own water usage."

Mrs Moczydlowski said she wanted to know how much in rates the villagers would pay if they lived on an ordinary road instead of a private one.

"We just want to know why, I'm sure they have their reasons but why are the rates so high for the little services we receive from council? There's 50 homes here, plus the communal centre, so they're getting substantial amounts from us."

Adele McAinch said she did not think a huge reduction was necessary as all home owners had to pay rates, but thought for the size of their homes and sections, somewhere around $1500 would be fair.

Jo Gillett said the rates were too high and discussing this with Mr Crosby was "worth a go".

Mr Crosby said he and rating expert Jim Taylor would be addressing the meeting and would talk about the rates rebate scheme, which many residents at Havenbrook would be entitled to. "Often with these kinds of villages, residents are not owners of their properties so they don't qualify for all or part of a rebate scheme, although Havenbrook is slightly different because they own their own title to their lot.

"On Thursday, we will help them through that."