"Many people, particularly from rural areas, have come to me with a complaint,"` TGG member Kevin Thomas said.

"They are shocked to suddenly have to pay nearly 50 per cent more in council rates than in the previous period."

Mr Thomas, a candidate for the upcoming council election, is calling for an inquiry into the background of the recent increase, which he described as "unreasonable and the result of a not very transparent process."

He quoted the case of a ratepayer who lives 15 minutes out of town and who is furious about the scale of the increase.

For the full story, please see Friday's Goulburn Post, available from our front office in Auburn St, or at all leading newsagencies across the Goulburn area.