The case for a rate rise
To help people afford to borrow from a bank to build homes, interest rates have been lowered. I make the point that it is not the banks' money which is being lent for new homes, but the bank depositors' money, which is controlled by the banks.
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Bank term deposit interest rates have shrunk to less than a fifth of what they were which affects self funded retirees.
Self funded retirees must, if they are to survive, close their bank term deposits and use their capital to buy blue ribbon investments or investment houses to rent out.
This will mean the banks will not have the funds to lend affecting their ability to lend for new homes.
That's a worse situation than what exists at the moment.
The government blames the banks for not immediately passing on lower rates.
They can't as many term deposits have years to run before they expire. Banks can't pay higher term deposit rates and lend out the money at a cheaper rate than they are paying for the money.
The Courier (October 14) states that forty bank branches have closed during the past year. Unless rates rise, it will be 100 by next year.
D.W. Woodward, Brown Hill.
Recycling hitches
I have been careful as to what is placed in my recycle bin however I received an "oops" notice from the council bin inspector stating that I had placed soft plastic in the bin.
I have checked what constitutes soft plastic and to my knowledge did not place any of the offending items in the bin.
I am sure the inspector found something that should not have been there, but with no actual description of what it was I will most likely reoffend.
Perhaps there should be a section where the inspector can write a small description of what the offending item is to avoid the same thing happening again.
Judith Buchanan, Sebastopol.
I do hope that there are "well done" stickers for council officers to apply to recycling bins after a bin inspection when they find that the house-holder has read and complied with all the recycling rules.
Perhaps a knock on the house-holder's door and a "well done" would be an encouraging response as well.
Joyce Currie, Wendouree.
Council rates inequity
I live in Hemsley Park and pay $1,141.
In Mt.Helen I was paying $100 less on a house block with two road frontages.
As the council doesn't have any services within the village and we have a private garbage collection, can this rate be justified?
John Cheswick, Ballarat East.
Why are Ballarat rates through the roof and a massive rip off when Geelong has so much to offer but the rates are cheaper?
Adam Fiers, Wendouree.
I do not agree that rates should be based on the value of the property.
Just because we have upgraded our house and others do not look after there's, why should we pay more?
It would also be easier for some people if they could pay monthly installments.
Debbie Till, Soldiers Hill.