Here are some facts: since 2011, 141 councils across NSW have applied for special rate variations. 

The average rise allowed over 4-7 years has been about 2.65 per cent a year (cumulative about 16.72 per cent). The highest ever were Parkes in 2013-14, 13 per cent per year for four years (cumulative 63 per cent) and in 14-15 Maitland, 7.25 per cent for seven years (cumulative 63.22 per cent). Only two were allowed a cumulative over 50 per cent, and eight allowed over 40 per cent.

So, I am not worried that IPART would allow my rates to rise by 108 per cent over six years, as indicated recently by no doubt well-meaning people.

It’s never happened, and in my opinion is never likely to happen.**

The next potential rate rise (apart from the rate peg at 1.5 per cent) will be from July 2018, and you’ll hear much more about this before then.

**The genesis of the idea of the scary 108 per cent hike began when the state government established some benchmarks back in 2014 and asked the question of all councils in NSW, “What would it take for you to reach these by 2020”.

We’ve long heard about the Upper-Allyn Restoration movement, but the new Sustaining the Williams Valley group is up and running.

Their River and Rainforest workshop on Saturday, June 24 was a resounding success, with 70 people attending.

Renowned philosopher and environmental speaker Glenn Albrecht spoke (really relevant to Dungog Shire - theconversation.com/the-age- of-solastalgia-8337), and it included a walk through a restoration planting right on the Williams River near the bridge. Congrats to all the volunteers who collaborated for this event.

There’s no end to the inventiveness of our Dungog Shire families.

Dr Susan Graham, whose family are resident farmers in the shire, is an engineer who has been testing a drone which could plant one billion trees every year to fight the worldwide catastrophic effects of deforestation. While normally resident in Britain, she’s been testing it recently – you guessed it – in Dungog!

It’s been in the news that some kids don’t know where milk comes from!

So, well known shire identity and farmer Karen Sowter is attempting to fix that with a great new initiative.

If you have city kids visiting during the school holidays, why not treat them to a couple of hours watching the milking, meeting the calves and enjoying the cream and cheese. Book at www.farmvisit.com.au

You’ll have your chance to express your views about the future of Dungog Shire at the poll happening at the same time as the next election.

But you’ll want all the most objective and accurate facts to base your decision on.

So the council has enlisted the assistance of expertise from outside the shire to make sure that “objective and accurate” is just what you get. It’s being prepared over the next few weeks and will be available in plenty of time before the election.

Finally, want to bring in a little extra money in and have the time? The NSW Electoral Commission is already recruiting staff to work at the Local Government Election on September 9.

The following website gives all the details. Do pass it on if you know of a friend who might be interested. http://www.votensw.info/work_at_these_elections