Kempsey Shire Council moved a recommendation to waive a range of charges for current owners of properties damaged or destroyed during the recent bushfires at the council meeting on Thursday.
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The waived fees include various water and sewerage charges, waste disposal options, tipping fees, development fees and interest on rates and charges that will work in combination with other assistance such as insurance and Government funding.
"The intention of waiving fees and charges is to ensure that council works to assist residents impacted by fires where other recovery support such as insurance or State and Federal funding hasn't applied," Kempsey Shire Council general manager Craig Milburn said.
"Property owners who make late payments of quarterly rates instalments on commercial or residential properties will not be charged interest incurred between November 8 and the end of June 2021.
"Outstanding interest is not waived."
Bushfire affected waste has been identified as a big issue following the devastating bushfire and councillors were presented with a matrix of cost saving opportunities during the meeting.
Single trailer loads of household non-asbestos contaminated waste will be accepted free of charge at the Waste Management Centre on Crescent Head Rd up until December 15 2019.
Director corporate Stephen Mitchell outlined the details of the recommendation to the councilors at the meeting.
"For uninsured properties that were damaged or destroyed, all fees and charges for disposing of build materials will be waived as the NSW Government through the office of Emergency Management will be covering those fees," he said.
"Public works will be responsible for the removal of that waste and will cover the costs. There may be instances where residents decide to dispose of the waste themselves and in that case we will record details matched with the data we have from the RFS and claim that back directly from the office of Emergency Management."
For insured properties, the waste levy has also been waived and the insurer is responsible for clean up costs which will be managed through contractors.
In relation to commercial buildings and out buildings, the State Government Waste Levy of $82.70 per tonne has been waived, and if residents are insured the insurer will cover the clean-up and disposal costs.
"Safety is one of the most important things to remember for disposing of any building waste, particularly when managing any asbestos ," Mr Milburn added.
The NSW Government has already announced that the waste levy for residents disposing of bushfire generated waste in areas that have been declared bushfire Natural Disaster Areas has been waived.
"Council placed a skip bin at Bellbrook Hall to assist with disposal of perishable items such as food that may have gone off during the fire emergency and will arrange for the free Community Recycling Trailer to visit Bellbrook and Willawarrin for free safe disposal of household problem waste," Mr Millburn said.
The full details of the recommendation regarding waived fees will be available on council's website.
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