[Danielle Dwyer]

Hi Courtney,

We were advised by our Debt Agency to not go down the SMS route as it is a legal mind field. I would be interested to see if you have sort legal advice on this as we were ready to launch and then were advised not to 🙁

Many thanks,

Dani

[Danielle Dwyer]

Hi Everyone,

Just looking for some guidance on how we would get quarterly validations started here in Bega. We have been wanting to do this for some time now.

I would be grateful for any tips or tricks.

Thanks so much,

Dani

[Danielle Dwyer]

Hi Cherie,

We have done a lot of work to train our call centre team to answer all the basic rates questions. Doing this has reduced our call volumes dramatically. Any new starters in Customer service spend a few hours with us for training and this has really helped. The big winner for us is written sec 603 updates. We no longer do verbal, and this has really reduced our phone calls as well. Happy to let you know how I initiated this (including letting all our Solicitors & conveyancers know). Just remember knowledge is power so the more rates knowledge you share with your customer service team the more it will assist you.

Good luck!

Dani

[Danielle Dwyer]

Hello Simone,

Hope you are well my Friend 🙂

We are just in the process of setting up SMS reminders through Forms Express. We were never going to be able to do it through authority, I just can’t trust the data or the process. I really like what Forms Express could offer and with a click of a button the SMS would go instantly. We are doing a fair bit of work in the background ensuring our data is pretty spot on. We are aiming to have our messaging quite generic so if it was sent to a number that wasn’t yours it would not breach privacy etc.

Give me a buzz if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Dani

[Danielle Dwyer]

Hi Kylie,

This is a tough one. I dont envy you. I would be reaching out to other Councils who have mosques and check how they rate any of their residential properties for the Iman’s. I would ask them to provide supporting documentation showing they are not using the residences for any other purpose (i.e leasing out and deriving an income). Any residential properties that are owned by any of our churches (catholic, baptist, Anglican etc) are all exempt but pay all the access and usage charges. It is easier to keep track of and audit for us though as we are regional.

Good luck!

Feel free to call if you have any questions. We have just done a massive audit on all our nonrateables.

Dani
6499 2304

[Danielle Dwyer]

Hi Jeanette,

we have only just had a scenario like this here in Bega but not specifically for special rates. I really delved into the legislation as I wanted to make sure we had everything covered. I even trawled through the forum for research.

Below is a snip of what I put in the letter. I had no back lash from our decision but did meet with our local LALC to explain our reasoning etc.

We have recently undertaken a review of non-rateable properties in the Bega Valley Shire Local Government Area (LGA). This assessment has included the exemption provisions from rates and charges described in Section 555 (1)(g) of the Local Government Act. Specifically, “land that is vested in the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council or a Local Aboriginal Land Council and is declared under Division 5 of Part 2 of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 to be exempt from payment of rates. We have also considered Section 43 (1)(a) of Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 and advise that we have applied Part 2, Section 4(2) of the Aboriginal Land Rights Regulation 2014 (Provisions relating to land), to the land held by Twofold Aboriginal Corporation as land being used for a commercial or residential purpose.

Hope this helps you, give me a buzz if you have further questions – 02 64992304

[Danielle Dwyer]

What does this mean for all of us 0.7%ers 🙁

[Danielle Dwyer]

Hi Robert,

This is a great help to me.

Thanks so very much!

[Danielle Dwyer]

A definite yes from Sunny Bega!

[Danielle Dwyer]

Hi Robert,

Perfect, they will remain.

Thanks so much!

[Danielle Dwyer]

Hi Dallas,

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I was hoping someone would respond 🙂

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