By Mikayla Van Loon
Yarra Ranges Shire councillors voted unanimously in favour of keeping the mayoral and councillor allowances in line with state government recommendations on Tuesday 25 May.
Councillor Jim Child moved the motion and spoke to the community consultation process that happened between March and April this year.
“We had 20 unique viewers to the proposal and we had one comment from the general public, so with that in mind I move this motion,” Cr Child said.
The current rate of pay reflects the Local Government Act 1989 but the responsibility of determining councillor allowances will transfer to the Victorian Independent Remuneration Tribunal under the Local Government Act 2020.
Until the tribunal determines that rate of pate, councillors will continue to receive anywhere between $13,123 to $31,444, while the mayor will receive $100,434 plus superannuation.
Councils across the state are divided into three categories depending on the income and population of each. Yarra Ranges Council has been placed in category three.
Councillor Len Cox OAM seconded the motion and said he was pleased that the community was able to respond to the item.
“It is something we do every four years and then it depends on whether the minister wants to change that at some stage in the future. There didn’t appear to be any opposition from the public which was very pleasing,” he said.
Speaking freely, councillor Catherine Burnett-Wake commented on the occasional resident who questions council pay and tried to reassure the community that councillor allowances are reasonable.
“In the report it highlights that we generally spend 20 to 30 hours a week on council business,” she said.
“When you look at an average councillor’s allowance for instance and what is being passed at $31,444, if for instance you equate that to working 20 hours per week, 48 weeks per year, have four weeks off for holidays, it’s like $32 odd an hour or if you were doing 30 hours a week it’s like $21 an hour so it’s actually below minimum wage.
“So my whole point is that the remuneration we get is not much but we don’t do it for the money, we do it because we’re really committed to our community and doing good work.”
