A complex future

The recent budget deliberations of the City of Victor Harbor Council raise a major conundrum that needs to be dealt with in the coming years.

Simply put, our city’s dominant revenue stream is from residential ratepayers; it makes up about eighty per cent of total rate revenue. Yet our Council must provide infrastructure to satisfy a population that triples during peak holiday periods. In addition to this, Victor Harbor’s permanent population is growing quite dramatically and is forecast to double over the next two decades. 

As residential ratepayers, we currently pay for the infrastructure needed for tomorrow’s residents, as well as the visitors who enjoy our region every year. It’s no wonder so many people argue our rates are too high. 

I’m all for ensuring our council is as productive as possible and that today’s ratepayers are receiving “value for money” for their rates. But we also need to confront a difficult question: how do we fund the infrastructure and services our growing population needs without placing an unfair burden on existing ratepayers?

This isn’t a problem we can simply wish away. Growth is coming, and the pressures are already being felt. The decisions we make over the next few years will shape Victor Harbor for decades to come.

The new CEO and elected members must face this complex future over the coming years, and make the right decisions to tackle it. We need a Council that is prepared to have honest conversations, plan for the long term and advocate strongly for fair funding from other levels of government. If elected, I will focus on making sure we protect what makes this city special while planning responsibly for the future. Because doing nothing is no longer an option.

Peter Hanlon
Victor Harbor