The peak body's Executive Director Daniel Gannon has launched a second stinging attack on the Council in Far North Queensland, which is proposing to charge rates on each individual unit in the 10 retirement and land lease communities within its boundaries.
Cairns Regional Council said its proposal "will align the rate charges to be more equitable to other multi-dwelling complexes that are subject to a minimum of $1072 each year." The Council claims the village and land lease community operators currently contribute as little as $58 per dwelling each year in rates.
All councils charge rates on retirement villages or land lease communities and this is the first time that a Council is seeking to make each unit pay a rate.
The Retirement Living Council has expressed concern that if Cairns Regional Council proceeds with the proposed rate change, other councils may follow suit. Daniel argues the Cairns Council is being inconsistent, noting its Towards 2050: Shaping Cairns from the Beaches to the Boulders draft report forecasts that over-65s will comprise 20% of the local population by 2050. The draft report adds retirement villages will play a crucial role in supporting this ageing demographic.
“One day they’re highlighting the importance of retirement villages, the next day they’re punishing pensioners because they live in one,” Daniel said.
“Given the anticipated surge in the number of people over 65 in Cairns, the council should be doing everything in its power to make all age-friendly accommodation as affordable as possible.”
He added the RLC had spoken to hundreds of residents who would be impacted by the rate hike, some of whom said they would have to give up private cancer treatment, sell their cars and survive on Vegemite sandwiches for dinner.
“This proposal can only be viewed as one thing – a cruel cash grab hitting some of the most vulnerable people in the community,.
“Councils are meant to build community, not destroy it.”
Council is expected to table the proposal to reclassify retirement villages and land leased communities in June.
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