Meetings will be held at up to five venues across the city with council receiving a report on the consultations on March 16.

Council applied for and was successful in gaining approval to levy a special rate variation of 6.05 percent in 2006-07 and that five year term expires this year.

The $1.425 million gained in the 2010-11 rating year from the special rate allowed council to reseal an additional 67 roads across the local government area, increase spending on road rehabilitation and helped replace of carry out major refurbishments to a number of sporting venues.

Options that will be presented to the community meetings are:

1. No special rate with a reduction in existing rates by 3.25% or $31 per year for the average ratepayer. This will result in additional expenditure on roads being discontinued or a reduction in service levels for a number of council services

2. Retain the existing special rate level and increase rates by the legislated rate cap limit of 2.8%, or $25 per year for the average ratepayer. This will result in existing service levels being maintained and an additional $1.425 million per year spending on roads.

3. Increase in rates by an additional 5.03% (inclusive of the 2.8% rate cap), or $45 per year for the average ratepayer. This will result in an extra $2 million being spent on roads each year.

4. Increase in rates by an additional 6.93% (inclusive of the 2.8% rate cap), or $62 per year for the average ratepayer. This will result in an extra $2.5 million being spent on roads each year.

The report to council also revealed that in the last community survey undertaken in June 2009, the satisfaction rating for developing and maintaining the road network was by far the lowest rating at 2.1 out of 5.

This contrasted with the importance factor for this service being rated the highest at 4.7 out of 5.

“These results indicate that the need for council to increase the existing level of service in maintaining the road network is the community’s highest priority.

This conclusion was supported by other questions in the survey,” said the report.

Road maintenance was seen by 41% of the community as currently being the highest priority issue.

It was also seen to be the highest priority issue over the next 20 years by 35% of the community. Consultation during the development of the Cessnock 2020 Community Plan also highlighted the condition of Cessnock’s roads as a major issue for the future.