Central Australian ratepayers will be granted a reprieve in the face of the COVID-19 crises, with Alice Springs Town Council granting a five per cent rate reduction for the next financial year.

Council’s 2020/2021 budget will see rates reduced by five per cent on residential properties, while the following financial year, 2021/2022, will see a rate rise freeze meaning residents are guaranteed to pay the same amount for the next two consecutive financial years.   

Council voted in the changes at its ordinary meeting earlier this week.

More Alice Springs news

• CLP would build Aboriginal art gallery at desert park if elected
• Alice Mayor, Deputy Mayor to stay silent over gallery site
• Alice Springs traditional owners furious over NT Government ‘disrespect’ on Aboriginal Art Gallery site
• Resentment festers in police ranks six months after Yuendumu shooting

Alice Springs business owners will also benefit from the changes, with rates also frozen for business and commercial property in 2020/2021 and 2021/2022.   

Other incentives introduced by council include a sports and recreation fund worth $100,000 to support local sporting associations and a new COVID-19 hardship concession plan for business operators and commercial property owners.

Council will also budget for a second fortnightly curb-side waste pick up for additional waste and green waste at no additional cost to ratepayers. 

• Man who allegedly killed five-year-old girl arrested, riot cops brought in to control Alice Springs crowd
• Little girl missing for five days found dead: Police
• Mass layoffs loom as NT Government capital works contracts slow to a trickle
• Darwin rates to rise 5.5 per cent as council unveils $23.5m works plan
• Teen allegedly assaults restaurant worker