By Brendan Rees
A new levy that could see ratepayers fork out up to $25,000 to help pay for the construction of unsealed roads has been slammed as “excessive” and “outrageous”.
Casey Council approved the new levy in its new five-year special charge scheme program at a recent meeting – which has disgusted ratepayers who say the charge “would cause undue financial stress to many” and “should be charged to developers”.
The levy was capped at a maximum of $25,000 per property while council agreed to contribute 25 per cent to the total cost of construction and asphalting of unsealed local roads – up from zero per cent.
The special charge scheme allows council to fund the construction of new infrastructure such as roads, footpaths and drains through a charge on ratepayers that would benefit from the works.
A draft copy of the policy was available for public consultation in February – which received a total of 29 written submissions, many of whom objected to the scheme.
According to a council report, a Cranbourne East resident said in there submission that “City of Casey charges enough for rates as it is” and any “major road construction such as the widening of the South Gippsland Highway is the responsibility of State Government not the council.”
A Berwick resident believed “council should pay more attention to slowing down building of new estates in the area to allow time for adequate infrastructure to catch up and be in place,” while another took aim at council saying their finances should be managed “more appropriately and not sending council members on junkets”.
Many submissions also said no ratepayer “should be charged for basic infrastructure like roads and drains”.
Casey Council chair administrator Noelene Duff defended council’s stance at the May meeting, saying while she appreciated there was “some controversy” about the scheme, “there’s a view that the community feel these are works that the council should pay for”.
“The work that’s been done on this has been quite comprehensive,” Ms Duff said.
Ratepayers Victoria president Dean Hurlston said the $25,000 levy was “disgusting” and branded council as “out of touch” with the community.
“Council is sitting on its hands and gouging ratepayers yet again,” he said.
“They can charge developers to ensure that council can provide open space and get base infrastructure – they’re not doing that enough.”
He said the charge was a result of “lazy management” from Casey Council who already had a “fat profit margin” – with ratepayers paying “extraordinary levels of rates”.
“It’s already costing ratepayers more to have administrators in because it was dysfunctional.
“This is so outrageous that Ratepayers Victoria is prepared to table this with the Minister for Planning Richard Wynne and the Local Government Minister and say ‘what on Earth is it acceptable for residents to pay up $25,000 to get council services to their property?” he said.
“If you’re not in the business of running council, which is what you’re paid to do then get out.”
