WYNDHAM council is again being urged to review its rates strategy, with landholders on the city’s fringe and retirement village residents claiming their rates burden is too high.
Close to 100 retirement village residents packed the council chamber on Monday night to support a submission to the proposed 2013-14 budget calling on the council to create a rates differential for retirement villages.
The council also received submissions from three urban growth zone landowners who want the council to find a way to ease the rates burden.
As reported by the Weekly, landowners in Wyndham’s north received rate rises of up to 700 per cent this financial year after revaluations meant the value of their properties soared.
The council attributed the increase to the land being brought within the urban growth boundary in 2010, meaning it could eventually be sold to developers for a higher price.
In her submission, Mount Cottrell resident Kristie Lazaric urged the council to lower rates before precinct structure plans (PSPs) were approved for the area.
“Once PSPs are approved our rates will go up an extra 50 per cent regardless of valuations. We want the council to work with us to find a solution so we can stay in the area,’’ she said.
“People don’t know what to do. They can’t afford to pay the rates.”
Speaking on behalf of residents of Point Cook, Rose Grange and Tarneit Skies retirement villages, Noel Cook said rates guidelines released by the state government earlier this year urged councils to consider differentials for retirement villages.
“People are very angry that the council won’t see the light despite the guidelines,’’ he said.
‘‘Do what the government asked you to do and seriously consider a rebate for retirement villages.”
Mr Cook said Hume, Melton, Frankston and Casey councils had retirement village differentials.
He argued that creating such a differential in Wyndham would not affect other ratepayers.
But in a letter to Mr Cook, corporate services director Steven Lambert said the council would not introduce a differential because it would result in other residents paying higher rates.
The council received eight other submissions, including requests for improved bicycle paths, the duplication of Leakes Road, and kerbing and widening of Rothwell Road in Little River.
It will consider the submissions before adopting the budget on July 1.
