What is Ratepayer Financing?
 

Ratepayer financing is a method of financing the construction of kerb and gutter and/or footpaving
fronting a ratepayer's property in advance of the work being undertaken via Council’s normal kerb and gutter
construction programme.

Why Can’t Council Construct Kerb and Gutter Now?

Council has an enormous task to provide kerb and guttering adjacent to all urban properties in the Shoalhaven. Current funding levels for this work will mean it may take decades to complete. Therefore those projects which meet the strict engineering criteria of reducing on-going maintenance problems; being required to support increased traffic generation; or to alleviate stormwater discharge through private properties receive first priority. Kerb and gutter for aesthetic purposes is given low priority.

How Can I Have Kerb and Gutter Constructed Now?

By means of a ratepayer's advance, the property owner requesting kerb and gutter construction and/or footpaving may forward the cost of the work to Council. Council will repay the loan proportion of the cost to the ratepayer after a period of five (5) years.

What Do I Pay For?

Under Section 217 of the Roads Act 1993, Council may recover from the adjoining owner half the cost of any kerb and gutter or footpath constructed along the frontage of the property. Side boundaries are charged at one quarter of the cost.

What Does Council Pay For?

Council meets the remaining half cost and full cost of bitumen sealing shoulders and any associated drainage.

What Interest Do I Receive On My Loan?

Council is regulated by the requirements of the Local Government Act which has set a simple interest rate of 5% per annum on the loan/advance which will be repaid, that is Council’s share of the cost which is half cost of kerb and gutter and/or footpath and full cost of bitumen sealed shoulder and associated drainage.

When Do I Obtain My Repayments?

Repayments will be made on a date five (5) years after the day on which the advance is made and will be paid to the original owner of the property providing the loan.

Who Do I Contact?

By contacting your Area Construction Engineer, costing of the works fronting your property can be determined following which an agreement can be drawn up, payments made and the work programmed.

Are There Any Extras?

Council encourages ratepayers to have constructed driveway slabs or strips between the property boundary and kerbline. This work does not form part of the Ratepayer's Financing. The full cost is met by the owner but a competitive price can be provided by Council.

Cost of Ratepayer Kerb and Gutter and Concrete Footpath

• Where less than a continuous length of 45 metres is to be constructed $308.70 per lineal metre.

• Where more than a length of 45 metres is to be constructed on adjoining properties $234.95 per lineal metre.

• Concrete footpath $64.79 per square metre = $77.75 per lineal metre. (1.2 metre wide)

How it Works

Note: This is an example to show how the scheme works.

Single Property Kerb and Gutter

• Assume property frontage is 18 metres.

• Cost for Ratepayer to Council for an 18 metre frontage is 18m x $256.85 = $4,623.30

• Recoverable contribution from Ratepayer for normal Council funded works is $60.80 including GST per metre of frontage.

    Therefore Ratepayer's contribution is:

    18m x $60.80 = $1,094.40

• Portion of cost to be repaid by Council:
  $4,623.30 - $1,094.40 = $3,528.90

• Repayment in lump sum 5 years hence:
  $3,528.90 + 5($3,528.90@ 5%)     = $3,528.90 + $882.23
                                                 = $4,411.13

Multiple Properties Kerb and Gutter
 

• Where more than 45 metres is to be constructed on adjoining properties the cost for each ratepayer having an 18 metre frontage would be
  18m x $186.40 = $3,355.20

• Recoverable contribution from Ratepayer for normal Council funded works is $60.80 including GST per metre of frontage.
  Therefore Ratepayer's contribution is:
  18m x $60.80 = $1,094.40

• Portion of cost to be repaid by Council:
  $3,355.20 - $1,094.40 = $2,260.80

• Repayment in lump sum 5 years hence:
  $2,260.80+ 5($2,260.80 @ 5%)  = $2,260.80 + $565.20
                                              = $2,826.00