GLEN Innes premises with On Site Sewage Management Systems (OSSM) that have been inspected and found to be operating satisfactorily will not be charged an annual fee on their rate notice from 2017.
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The change will take place from July next year after results were tabled from the inspection program which was carried out by Council Officer’s.
Council Manager of Regulatory and Planning Services Greg Doman said that from July next year systems found to be faulty will be classified high risk and required to pay an annual application fee of $85 for an approval to operate.
“The proposed strategy will provide an opportunity for owners of high risk systems to have them upgraded within 12 months of the new charges being implemented,” he said.
“This should be an incentive for those owners to ensure that their OSSM system is operating in a satisfactory manner.
“Council staff should be congratulated in the efficient and professional manner the inspection regime has been implemented during the past five years.”
Glen Innes Mayor Colin Price said the results of the inspections have caused some concern for council.
“The inspections found that some Glen Innes residents had some very risky operations in regards to their Sewage Management Systems,” he said.
Mr Doman said initially the inspection program was met with large scale community objection.
“It is believed that the revised strategy is an equitable outcome for property owners,” he said.
“Those owners with complying systems will be rewarded and those that have not rectified their defective systems will be charged accordingly.”
