Celebrating news that their properties have now been left out of the Urban Growth Boundary investigation area are, from left, Devon Meadows residents Charlie Hilli, Margie Elliot and Margaret Hilli. 32455 By Bridget Brady
DIRECTORS of Oakwood Riding School can breathe a sigh of relief after the property was excluded from the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) investigation area.
The riding school, in Clyde North, was included in the investigation area to extend the UGB in Casey.
One of the school’s directors Michael Hocking said while the school had been excluded, it was difficult to say what could happen in the future.
“It’s hard to know when you can plan for the future when you are included then something else happens a few weeks later,” Mr Hocking said.
A weight has also been lifted from Devon Meadows landowners who have been excluded from the UGB investigation area.
But the residents say they will continue to rally for their neighbours who remain in the investigation area and face the prospect of paying a $95,000 per hectare tax if they sell their land.
Residents Margie Elliot and Margaret and Charlie Hilli are celebrating after last week hearing news their properties had been left out of the UGB investigation area after a revised boundary was released.
Parts of Devon Meadows and Clyde have been excluded.
For the City of Casey, the amount of land now included in the investigation area is 5560 hectares.
Mrs Elliot said she was delighted that her three-acre property on Browns Road had been excluded.
“It was very exciting. We like to think all of the letters we wrote had some sort of impact,” she said.
However Mrs Elliot said she did not have complete confidence that the boundary would not be changed again, but hoped this was the final product.
“I’d be devastated if they were to change it because it has given us hope.”
Under the Growth Areas Infrastructure Charge scheme, those brought into the UGB in or after 2009 are charged a levy of $95,000 per hectare when they sell.
Mrs Elliot said she shared the fury of others that the tax was applied to the wrong people at the wrong time, and should be put in place at the point of development.
“They are taxing the wrong people. We have to fight it.” Mrs Hilli said the tax was “silly and unjust”.
“It’s just not thought out at all.”
Mr Hilli said he was on a “semi-high” for the moment.
“While I’m really happy, it is still bittersweet for everyone else,” he said.
Mrs Elliot said she wanted to continue to support other residents who faced the tax.
“I wasn’t confident we would get this boundary changed … there is always hope. While people have a voice there is always hope.”
