Council gets tough with Defence Force on unpaid rates

By SCOTT MacLEOD

The Defence Force has been told it must pay a rates bill of nearly $600,000 by the end of today - or be taken to court by Waitakere City Council.

The Defence Force disputes owing the rates on its Whenuapai and Hobsonville air bases, and is not expected to meet the deadline.

The dispute arose over the uniform annual general charge of $520 that the council demands from the owner of every property in its area, including 370 houses on the bases. Defence chiefs refused to pay most of the rates for 2001 and last year, arguing that the houses should be lumped together rather than rated separately.

However, the council said it was required by law to collect rates for them individually.

After months of bickering, the council said it would take the Defence Force to the High Court unless it paid $591,977 by the end of today.

Council spokesman Wally Thomas said yesterday that it was likely court proceedings would start on Monday unless the bill was paid. The council and the Defence Force reached an agreement after the 2002 rating year on how to rate the air bases.

Mr Thomas said the Defence Force had paid its rates bill since the agreement was reached but it still owed the money for the two earlier years.