Council defends houseboat rates
June 2010
News
www.abc.net.au
Renmark-Paringa Council in Australia has defended the operation of a marina at Lock Five after houseboat owners complained about rising rates.
Chief executive Barry Hurst says improved power supplies to some sites led to a $30 increase in the annual rate, as well a $60 rise from the new financial year.
He says the increases are modest and the sites still cost less than $2,000 per year.
"The reason for council's recent decision basically is to maintain its stand in relation to the fees," he said.
"We have to understand that it is a commercial operation and it's not something we believe the rest of the ratepayers in the district should be subsidising ... it should be self-funding."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/25/2936786.htm?site=riverland§ion=news