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Council

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1. How was Snowy Monaro Regional Council created and what are its boundaries?

Snowy Monaro Regional Council was proclaimed on 12 May 2016. The proclamation contains valuable information about the new council, including its boundaries, and can be found here www.strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au/new-councils/snowy-monaro-regional-council/

More general information about all new councils and how they will operate can be found at www.strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au.

2. How was the name of our new council chosen?

The name for Snowy Monaro Regional Council was specified in the proclamation.

There is potential for new councils to change their names at a later date through a further proclamation under Section 207 of the Local Government Act 1993.

3. Who will pay for Snowy Monaro Regional Council to be established?

The NSW Government has established two separate funds to support establishment of new councils and to fund community infrastructure and services:

- The New Council Implementation Fund provided up to $5 million to SMRCl to meet the up-front costs of implementation.

- The Stronger Communities Fund provided up to $15 million to each new council to invest in new or improved infrastructure and better services for the community.

4. Will my rates stay the same?

Under the Government’s rate protection commitment, residents of new councils will pay no more for their rates than they would have under their old council for four years.

5. Will the services and facilities that the previous councils provided to residents, ratepayers and businesses remain the same?

It will be business as usual for Council with no major changes expected to services or community facilities in the short term.

6. Where are Snowy Monaro Regional Council staff, administrative offices and customer service centres located?

Council's Head Office is located at the Cooma office at 81 Commissioner Street, Cooma.

Our customer service staff can assist you in each of our offices.

- Customer Service Centre at 81 Commissioner Street COOMA NSW 2630.
- Customer Service Centre at 2 Myack Street BERRIDALE NSW 2628
- Customer Service Centre at 71 Caveat Street BOMBALA NSW 2632
- Customer Service Centre at Shop 2 Razorback Plaza Gippsland Street JINDABYNE NSW 2627

7. How will the new council continue to communicate and engage with residents?

Snowy Monaro Regional Council communicates frequently with residents, ratepayers and businesses and engage the community in planning for the future.

This will include:
- Council stories, media releases, advertisements in the local media
- Council's weekly communique page in the Monaro Post newspaper
- Mayoral Column in the Monaro Post and Bombala Times
- Council website and Council's engagement platform, Your Say Snowy Monaro. https://www.yoursaysnowymonaro.com.au/
- Community newsletters distributed to every household and through council facilities and buildings
- Council's Facebook page. Search for us on Facebook.
- Information in customer service centres, libraries, community centres and other community facilities.

8. What is the time frame for developing a new delivery plan and community strategic plan?

-The requirement in the Local Government Act for councils to have a delivery program and community strategic plan will be fulfilled by the delivery programs and community strategic plans of the former councils until a new program and plan is prepared by the new council after its first election.

-Councils will be required to prepare a new delivery program by 1 July 2018 and this program must cover the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2021. A three-year outlook period will ensure that all councils return to a consistent reporting schedule by July 2021. Councils will be required to review their community strategic plan by 1 July 2018.

9. What are the requirements for redundancies to be genuine?

For general information on the requirements, refer to:

https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/working/working-as-an-employee/leaving-your-job/redundancy-payments/

For more detailed information, please refer to Taxation Ruling TR 2009/2 Income tax: genuine redundancy payments. The requirements for a genuine redundancy payment are listed from paragraph 10.

10. Do the employment protections prescribed under the Local Government Act 1993 for staff affected by mergers and boundary alterations apply to individuals or the positions they hold?

The protections conferred on staff of councils affected by mergers or boundary alterations under the Local Government Act 1993 apply to individual staff members and not to the position they hold. This means that irrespective of the position they hold at the time of a merger or boundary alteration, or subsequently hold in a new council, non-senior staff:

• cannot be made redundant as a result of the transfer without their agreement for three years following the merger or boundary alteration;
• must continue to be employed under the same terms and conditions unless they voluntarily consent to the alteration of their terms and conditions; and
• cannot be transferred to a work base outside the former council’s local government area unless:
›› they give their written consent to the transfer; or
›› the transfer would not cause them to suffer unreasonable hardship because of the distance they would be required to travel to their new work base.

11. Are designated persons required to submit new pecuniary interest returns with the new council?

No. Under the Local Government Act 1993, a designated person holding that position at 30 June in any year must complete and lodge a pecuniary interest return with the General Manager within three months (i.e. by 30 September).

Where designated persons have previously submitted a pecuniary interest return with their former
council, this will continue to be valid. However, designated persons should review these to ensure
that the information contained in the pecuniary interest return previously submitted with the former
council remains current.

General Managers must consolidate all the pecuniary interest returns previously submitted
with the former councils into a single register.

Staff must submit a pecuniary interest return within three months of becoming a designated person. Administrators must also submit a pecuniary interest return within three months of their appointment.

12. Can monies be carried over past 31 December 2019?

All funds are to be acquitted by the end of 2019.

Requests to extend this time will be considered on a case by case basis. Generally, extensions would be provided to assist councils who run into unexpected issues that delay implementation.

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Dogs and Cats

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1. Do I have to register my Dog or Cat?

All cats and dogs, other than exempt cats and dogs, must be registered by six months of age. The registration fee is a once-only payment, which covers the cat or dog for its lifetime in NSW, regardless of any changes in ownership. You are encouraged to have your cat or dog desexed before registering it.

Discounted registration fees apply to desexed cats or dogs. Having your cat or dog desexed prior to registration helps to reduce straying, fighting and aggression and antisocial behaviour, such as spraying to mark territory. It also helps to reduce the number of unwanted pets born each year.

Registration fees are used by councils for providing animal management related services to the community. These may include ranger services, pound facilities, dog refuse bins, educational and other companion animal-related activities.

2. When does my cat or dog have to be microchipped?

Since 1 July 1999 all dogs and cats in NSW must be microchipped at point of sale, change of ownership or by 12 weeks of age, whichever occurs first.

3. Does my farm working dog have to be registered?

A working dog is defined in the Companion Animals Act as a dog used primarily for the purpose of droving, tending, working or protecting stock, and includes a dog which is being trained as a working dog.
If the dog is ordinarily kept on land categorised as farmland for rating purposes it is exempt from microchipping and registration requirements.
For all other working dogs that do not meet the above exemption requirements, microchipping and lifetime registration is required, but no registration fee applies.
If you own a working dog that is exempt from microchipping and lifetime registration, you are encouraged to microchip and register your valuable animal. However, no registration fee applies.
Farm pets are NOT considered to be working dogs.

4. Can my cat or dog lose its exemption from microchipping and lifetime registration?

Yes. If your cat or dog is exempt from microchipping and registration requirements it may lose its exemption if it breaches the Companion Animals Act.
Any dog which has been declared dangerous (including working dogs) must be microchipped and lifetime registered. Similarly, any dog or cat which is the subject of a nuisance order must be microchipped and registered.
If a person is convicted of an offence under the Companion Animals Act, any registration exemption which may apply is lost, and the animal must be microchipped and lifetime registered.
Similarly, if any cat or dog is taken into the custody of a council pound it must be microchipped and registered before being released to its owner (even if it is less than 6 months old).

5. Do I have to register and microchip my cat?

Yes cats must be registered and microchipped the same as dogs.

6. How much does lifetime registration cost?

Registration fees for dogs and cats are set by legislation and councils are unable to change them. Registration fees are subject to change, please check with council before making any payments.

For the current list of fees and charges please visit https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/content/registration-fees

7. I have recently moved to NSW – how long until I have to lifetime register my pet?

You have 3 months to register your pet on the NSW Companion Animals Register after you have moved to NSW. Registration is for the life of the animal so even if you move interstate again and then return, your pet is still registered. Don’t forget to update your contact details on the Register by contacting your local council

8. What do I need to do if I give my pet away or sell it?

Under the Companion Animals Act, you cannot sell or give away a companion animal without having it permanently identified by microchip. All puppies or kittens need to be microchipped by the age of 12 weeks, but if you sell or give away animals before this age, you are still responsible for ensuring that they are microchipped before they leave your ownership. A fine applies for breaching these provisions.

9. What do I need to do if my pet is lost or dies?

If your pet has been lost you must notify your local council within 72 hours and if your animal is found you must also let council know that your pet has returned home.
If your pet dies then your local council must be notified within 28 days. You can do so in writing or by phone. All other notifications (including change of address or ownership) must be done in writing, using the appropriate form.

10. Do I have to keep my cat inside?

The Companion Animals Act does not contain any requirement for cats to be kept inside, or a cat curfew. However, cat owners are encouraged to keep their cat inside at night as this can provide many benefits to both the cat itself and the general community

11. Does my dog need to be on a leash?

Yes, dogs must be on a lead at all times unless they are in a designated, sign posted off leash area.

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Information About Rates and Water Accounts

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1. How do I update my contact details with Council

Changes to contact details MUST be received in writing. Complete an online change of address via our website. Or you can email, fax, post or deliver to a Council office, a Change of Address notification.

2. Can I receive my notices via email?

Yes. You can receive your notices via email. Please download the 'Request Notices via Email' Form from our website. Once completed, your form can be emailed, faxed, posted or delivered to a Council office.

3. When are my Rates due?

You can pay the full amount by 31 August
Or you can pay by instalments. Instalments are to be paid by the following dates:

1st Instalment due: 31 August
2nd Instalment due: 30 November
3rd Instalment due: 28 February
4th (Final) Instalment due: 31 May

4. If I pay my rates in full, rather than in the quarterly instalments, can I get a reduction?

No – The rates that are levied are not reduced when paid in full.

5. How is my land valued?

Land Rates are calculated on the rateable valuation supplied by Land and Property Information (LPI).

The LPI Division of the Department of Lands (formerly known as the NSW Valuer General's Office) determines the value to be used by Council for rating purposes and supplies updates during the year.

6. Can I appeal the valuation of my land?

Any objections or appeals regarding the land valuation must be directed to the Land and Property Information. Whether or not an objection is pending, the rates levied must be paid by the due date indicated on the front of your Rates notice.

Contact Land and Property Information - call 1300 052 637 or visit www.lpi.nsw.gov.au

7. What does 'ad valorem' mean?

Ad valorem is an amount paid against the dollar value of your land. Commonly this is only a fraction of a single cent for each dollar of land value.

The ad valorem charge differs for the residential/farmland and business/mining categories and is levied on the unimproved land value of a property, as determined by Land and Property Information (LPI).

The LPI can be contacted on 1800 110 038 for any queries relating to land values.

8. How is my land categorised for rating purposes?

All land is categorised according to its primary or permitted use for the purposes of rating. Council has categorised all land to be within one of the following categories:

RESIDENTIAL - principle or primary use as residential accommodation
RURAL RESIDENTIAL - contains a dwelling and the land area is between 2 and 40 hectares
BUSINESS - where the principle use is for commercial or industrial use, or cannot be categorised in one of the other categories
FARMLAND - primary use is for the business of farming
MINING - where the owner has rights to mine coal or metals from land

9. What happens if I disagree with the category shown on my rate notice?

You can request a categorisation review at any time by writing to Council.

If you have changed the use of your property, you need to notify us within 30 days.

10. When does a change in category occur?

We will notify you in writing if a change is proposed and you will have the opportunity to appeal the decision.

The new category will be effective from the date declared in writing by us (generally from the beginning of the next financial year).

11. When am I charged interest?

If an instalment is not paid on or before the due date, the instalment will become overdue and it will be subject to interest.

Rates in arrears are subject to daily interest in accordance with the provisions of The Local Government Act 1993 - Section 566 at the interest rate approved by the Minister for Local Government.

The interest percentage will be shown on the front of your rate notice.

Rates that remain unpaid may be included in recovery proceedings. Such action may incur recovery costs in addition to interest charges.

12. Am I entitled to a Pensioner Rebate for my Rates/Water?

If you are an eligible pensioner, you may be entitled to a rebate. All NSW councils give a mandatory rebate to eligible pensioners of up to $250 off ordinary rates, $87.50 off water charges and $87.50 off sewer charges.

You are an eligible pensioner if you are liable to pay the rates and charges on a property, which is your sole or principle residence, and you have a current pensioner concession card issued by Centrelink, or you have a current pensioner concession card issued by the Department of Veteran's Affairs.

13. Can I amalgamate all my Rate Notices into one notice?

Contact the Land and Property Information (LPI) on 1300 052 637 to amalgamate your properties where you receive only one rates notice for multiple lots. The property is required to be vacant land and owned by the same person in the same Deposited Plan number. The valuation will be re-assessed for all parcels of land and Land and Property Information (LPI) will notify Council and the owner by sending documentation i.e. a new Valuation Certificate.

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Recycling FAQs

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1. What Items Can Go Into My Kerbside Yellow Lid Recycling Bin?

Paper and cardboard including newspapers, magazines, egg cartons, office paper, windowed envelopes, telephone books, and empty pizza boxes.

Glass bottles and jars, including the metal lids.

Aerosols, Aluminium, Steel cans including pet food cans scraped clean where possible, beverage cans, aluminium foil, and foil trays.

Rigid plastic containers from the kitchen, bathroom or laundry (including takeaway containers, disposable and non-disposable plastic cups and plates).

Liquid paperboard such as milk and juice cartons.

2. Can I Recycle Aerosol Cans?

You sure can. Aerosol cans are made from recyclable steel or aluminium.
Once they are empty just put them in your recycling bin (yellow lid).
Recycle them from the bathroom, kitchen, laundry and shed.

3. Can Aluminium Cans, Foil And Foil Trays Be Recycled?

The aluminium cans should be empty and the foil can be recycled in the yellow lid recycling bins if the foil is free of food particles and is scrunched up into a cricket-size ball. They don’t need to be spotless so be careful not to waste water when preparing them.

If you are out, remember to bring home your cans, foil or trays to recycle at home if you can not find a recycling bin.

Aluminium does not 'degrade' during the recycling process, which means it can be recycled over and over again. Recycling aluminium reduces the need for raw materials and reduces the use of valuable energy resources. For every tonne of aluminium recycled, five tonnes of bauxite are conserved.

Aluminium is a valuable material to recycle due to the large amount of energy and resources used in the initial manufacture. Making a can from recycled materials rather than from bauxite saves 95% of the energy. Each single can recycled, saves enough electricity to run a TV for 3 hours. This means that recycling one kilogram of aluminium saves 20kg of greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.

4. What About Pizza Boxes? Can I Recycle Them?

Before putting pizza boxes into the recycling bin, just scrape out all the solid food scraps first. If the pizza box has a removable cardboard mat take that out too and put it in the garbage bin. There should be no solid food left in the box.

5. Can Pringle Tubes Be Recycled?

Pringles Tubes CAN be recycled.
These cans/tubes are made from what is called composite packaging. This means that the can is made from a 'sandwich' of different materials e.g. a layer of aluminium internally, with a layer of cardboard externally. This item are accepted in your recycling including the lids.

6. Do I Have To Rinse My Glass Bottles And Jars Before Putting Them In My Recycling Bin?

Yes, but only a quick rinse. These should be emptied and to save water, rinse them in your dishwashing water after you have finished the dishes.

7. Do I Have To Remove The Lids From Glass Bottles And Jars Before I Put Them In My Recycling Bin?

Yes.
Once you have given a quick rinsed the glass bottle/jar of food residue, make sure you leave the lids loose in your recycling bin (don’t put them back on the bottle/jar), so they can be separated more effectively at the material recover facility (MRF). Removing lids also ensures that no liquids remain in the bottles/jars and potentially contaminate the load or create a health and safety risk for the staff sorting the recyclables.

8. Why Can’t I Put Drinking Glasses And Broken Window Glass In My Recycling Bin?

No.
The glass used in glassware other than glass bottles and jars has a wide variety of properties and melting temperatures. This means if it is sent for recycling, it may not melt properly or form faults (invisible to the naked eye) in new bottles and jars made from recycled glass. This is particularly the case with ceramics and heat proof glassware (e.g. Pyrex), which should Never be placed in your recycling bin.

9. Do I Need To Remove The Lids From Plastic Bottles?

Yes. Please place the lids in separately. The lids can trap air in the containers for harder compaction. Some of the lids are made from a different type of plastic than the rest of the container and are separated at the material recovery facility (MRF) into the different plastic types before being taken to processing plants for recycling into new products.

10. Why Can’t I Recycle Plastic Bags In My Recycling Bin?

Even though plastic bags are made from recyclable plastic and can be recycled at some special places, they CANNOT be recycled in your household recycling bin. They get caught in the sorting machinery at the material recovery facility (MRF) and will not be sorted. If you place your recyclables in plastic bags in your recycling bin, they can’t be recycled and will end up in landfill.

11. Can I Put My Recycling In Plastic Bags Like I Do My Garbage?

No. Never bag your recyclables in your recycling bin as plastic bags are not recyclable at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF). Operators do not have time to open bags to check for recyclables and they do not know what’s inside the bag – it may just be rubbish and end up contaminating the whole load. Bagged recyclables at the MRF are taken out and landfilled, so all your good work at recycling will go to waste if you put it in plastic bags.

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Waste and Recycling General

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1. Why didn't my bin get collected?

Did you place your bin out the night before your collection day?
The collection routes are scheduled on days NOT times as the collection vehicles may drive past your property very early in the morning.

Any bins that are not presented at the time the collection vehicle drive past your property will have to wait until the next collection day for that area.

2. When are my bins collected?

The day of collection depends on the area you live.

A hard copy of the Resource and Waste calendar can be picked up from all Council Waste Facilities or Offices or you can visit www.snowymonaro.nsw.gov.au/277/Bin-Collection-Calendar page and download a copy.

* Waste is collected weekly.
* Recycling is collected fortnightly.
* Food and Garden Organics is collected fortnightly (Cooma residents only)

3. Should I take my bins with me when I sell my house or move?

No. They belong to Council and must remain at the property. Please do not remove.

4. There is no bins at my property. How can I get some bins?

If you are renting, contact your real estate agent who will arrange a bin for you.
If you own the property, please call Council’s Resource and Waste Department to check your property status and organise a service.

5. I have just moved and my large cardboard boxes wont fit into my recycling bin?

Cardboard and other Recycling can be dropped off Free of Charge at ALL of Council's Waste Facilities. For more information visit the Waste Facilities page for your nearest facility.

6. Where can I purchase a compost bin or a worm farm?

Council can source Worm Farms, Compost Bins, Accessories and Spare Parts.
You can contact the Resource and Waste Department and they can advise and order products for you.

7. What should I do if my bin is missing or damaged?

Call Council's Resource and Waste Department and advise.

If the bin is damaged, Council can fix the bin or a replacement bin can be organised.

To reduce the risk of your bins going missing, please put your bins out no earlier than the day before your collection day, and bring them back in as soon as you can after they’ve been emptied.

8. My collection day falls on a public holiday. Will my bin be collected?

Yes. There are no changes to bin collections on Public Holidays, except for Christmas Day. There are no kerbside collection services on Christmas Day.

9. I’m moving out, where can I take my unwanted goods?

Unwanted items that are in good condition can be donated to Council's Second Chance Buy Back Facility at the Jindabyne Landfill or ScrapMart at Cooma Landfill. Unfortunately Council does not have the ability to removed these Hard Waste items from your property.

10. How Do I Dispose Of Unwanted Paint?

You can drop off your Unwanted Paint or other household problem waste FREE of charge at
Council's Community Recycling Centres at Jindabyne Landfill and Cooma Landfill. For more information, click on www.snowymonaro.nsw.gov.au/917/Community-Recycling-Centre.
Bombala Landfill hosts an annual Household Chemical CleanOut. Visit the event page on the website for more information.

11. Why do the garbage trucks start so early and make a lot of noise?

The trucks must start early to ensure they finish their scheduled run for the day. Whilst garbage trucks do produce noise they are also performing a vital residential service and all services are carried out in accordance with the EPA’s Environment Protection (Residential Noise) Regulations 2008.

12. How do I apply for a domestic kerbside collection service?

Contact your local Council office and complete an application form or download application online. www.snowymonaro.nsw.gov.au/280/Domestic-Collection.

In the case of a new build, you will need to provide a Final or Interim Occupancy Certificate for your property. This certificate is required by Council prior to the delivery of a new collection service.

Once application has been received, bins will be ordered and should arrive within 5 working days.

13. How do I dispose of my Green Waste?

Cooma Residents have a Food Organics and Garden Organics Kerbside Collection - which is collected fortnightly.

All other areas can dispose this waste in your red lidded waste bin with your general household rubbish, or for larger amounts you drop off at your nearest waste facility.
Fees and Charges for Green Waste Disposal maybe applied.

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Youth

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1. I need to speak to someone urgently about an issue in my life. Who do I call?

If you need to speak to someone urgently, please call Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800, Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or emergency services on 000.

2. How do I get involved in School Holiday Programs?

The easiest way is to just show up to an activity. School holiday programs are aimed at young people aged 12 - 17 and you're welcome to come along on your own or bring a friend. Activities at The Hub Youth Centre in Cooma are almost always free, and lunch is provided. Keep an eye out for the School Holiday Program flyer, it will let you know what's on each day.

3. I have an idea for an activity for young people. How can I get help to make it happen?

Get in contact with one of the Youth Development Officers. Claire is based at our Jindabyne office and Mel is at The Hub in Cooma. Their contact details can be found on the Youth Services pages.

4. Where are the Youth Centres in the region?

The Hub Youth Centre is located at 39 - 41 Vale St Cooma. It's open 9am - 5pm Tuesday to Friday and drop-ins are very welcome. For details on youth activities around the Bombala and Jindabyne areas, please contact one of the Youth Development Officers or your local Council branch.