A RATE RISE of 3.5 per cent - double last year’s capped rate - has been adopted by the Southern Grampians Shire Council at Wednesday night’s June meeting, under the 2023/24 Budget Long Term Financial Plan 2023-2033 and Pricing Register, following a period of community consultation.

Mayor David Robertson said he wanted to be transparent about the rate increase as he knew people were “feeling the pinch at the moment”.