Council rates notices will be in ratepayer’s letterboxes from this week with payment due by 31 August.

Council offers you a number of convenient ways to pay your rates including:

* online

* credit card by phone

* BPAY

* mail

* in person at council offices or at any Post Office

Pension Rebates for 2010/2011 Pensioners who have applied for a Pension rebate are requested to check their Rates Notice.

If you have received a pension rebate, it will appear in the Particulars of Rates and Charges Box to the right of the total Column.

The Pension Rebate has been included in the total column.

The total column is the amount to pay.

If you hold a Pension Card and have not applied for a Pension Rebate on your Rates, you may be eligible, so please contact Council.

Outstanding Rates and Charges – Financial Difficulty

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact Council to set up a formal payment arrangement, as weekly, fortnightly or monthly pay arrangements can be made.

This article can be found on the web at:

http://bellingen.local-e.nsw.gov.au/news/pages/10229.html

The 2010 event program includes key-note speakers, workshops, kids activities, and live music – all around the theme of sustainability. Community groups and local businesses will be demonstrating all the ideas, products and services that can help reduce our carbon footprint and lead to a better future.

The 2009 event was hugely successful. It was attended by over 4,000 people, involved 50+ exhibitors and received considerable media coverage in regional newspapers, radio and television.

We anticipate that the 2010 Festival will be even better. John Hepburn, Greenpeace’s Climate and Energy Campaign Leader is confirmed as one of the key speakers. In addition to the popular exhibitions on transport, gardening and renewable energy, this year’s event will also include workshops on deep ecology, ‘electrifying your bike’ and vegetarian cooking. There is also a North Coast Energy Forum for businesses being held the day prior on Friday 4 June.

The Festival has now established itself as a major event for the mid-north coast and is a flagship event of the NSW Government’s 2010 North Coast Innovation Festival. The Festival is managed as a not-for-profit event, exhibitor fees and sponsor packages help cover event costs. If you are interested in maximising your involvement and becoming a sponsor of the Festival, call the Director Martin Hogan on 6655 1159. Sponsorship packages are very reasonable.

Liz McCabe

Festival Coordinator

Bellingen New Energy Festival