RESIDENTS living in parts of Wyndham brought inside the urban growth boundary last year have urged the council to do more to lower their rates.
As reported by the Weekly, residents in parts of Tarneit and Mount Cottrell experienced significant rates increases this year after the value of their land soared following a Growth Areas Authority decision to extend the UGB.
The move means the land can be sold to developers, however the GAA said it would be 20-30 years before the area is developed.
Ratepayers want the council to change the way rates are administered in the meantime, or push for the area’s zoning to be altered.
They say a September decision to create an assistance package for landowners in Wyndham’s north is only a temporary solution.
The package allows deferral of the sum by which this year’s rates have exceeded the rates payable in 2011-12, plus the Wyndham-wide average increase of 5.5 per cent. Interest on the deferred amount will be 6.5 per cent.
Ratepayers will be eligible for assistance if their rates bills have risen by at least $1000, or if their property valuation has increased more than 75 per cent.
Fair Rates Committee representative Joe Magro said the council’s decision had only deferred the problem until next year.
“They have delayed the problem and are charging us interest at the same time. We are stuck in limbo.
“No developer wants to sit on our land for 20-30 years until the area can be developed.” Mr Magro said he was disappointed a notice of motion put to last week’s council meeting had to be withdrawn. He said he had hoped it would encourage new councillors to review the previous council’s decisions.
The motion, which called on the council to limit rate rises in the urban growth zone to 5.5 per cent, was deemed illegal by chief executive Kerry Thompson because it breached the Local Government Act.
“We had hoped the new councillors would review the rates decision. Now I’m not confident the new council will fix the issue,” Mr Magro said.
Speaking at last week’s meeting, deputy mayor Marie Brittan said she supported the decision of the previous council. “Council also adopted a number of assistance measures targeting owner/occupiers in the urban growth zone. I’m happy to support the decision of the former council.”
A review of the council’s rating strategy is expected to be presented to councillors on December 17.
