Hi Paula,
We have a rural collection, various ones but our longest would be from Inverell to Yetman (120km), at the time there was still 2-3 small landfills open along the route. We definitely had people jump up and down, but there was no exemptions given, Council had adopted that is was a ‘serviced road’ and there fore all properties would be charged.
We also charge a vacant rate, for me the hardest part was working out which properties had dwellings and which didn’t. I levied the wrong rate many times, mainly because of the info I had been given from the department which implemented it.
Another issue I have had is, the roads off the ‘main collection route’ have been allowed to have optional collection, by taking their bin to the main road. So in theory they elect to have the collection and then be charge. The problem lies with someone not wanting the collection, buying a bin from Bunnings and putting it out for collection. We have replaced many bins that have been ‘damaged by the truck’ yet they aren’t paying for a service. These could also be recently purchased properties where they think a collection is included.
Good luck.
