CROWDS of angry landowners threw Wyndham Council’s monthly meeting into chaos on Monday night, crying foul over rates bills up to four times higher than last year.
Three police cars were called to the civic centre after the council came under fire from nearly 200 people in the gallery.
Tensions ran high when mayor Kim McAliney advised the crowd the council was unable to address their questions during the meeting and would take them on notice.
The meeting was suspended for more than an hour as the crowd demanded their questions be answered. “…we came here to see you tonight and you are dismissing these people,” one protester called.
Landowners on Wyndham’s fringes, mainly from Tarneit, have received a rates shock after revaluations meant the value of their properties soared. The council attributed the massive increase in value to the land being brought within the urban growth boundary in 2010, meaning it could eventually be sold to developers for a higher price.
But Tarneit resident Joe Magro, who spoke on behalf of landowners, said it would be at least a decade before developers would turn their attention to Wyndham’s fringe.
“Most of the people who live out here are older, on a pension, and there is absolutely no way they can pay these rates.”
Mount Cottrell resident Mary Sammut said her rates increased from $2000 last year to $8000 this year.
Tarneit pensioner Stella Cassar’s rates doubled. “It’s going to be so hard. How am I going to pay this on a pension?”
Corporate services director Steve Lambert said residents could appeal to the council’s independent valuer. Mount Cottrell’s Robin Azzopardi, whose rates rose from $1882 to $4830, objected to her property’s revaluation but was told she would have to continue paying this year’s instalments until the appeal was finalised.
The council has organised a public meeting at the civic centre on Monday from 7pm to discuss residents’ concerns.
