PENSIONERS Vince and Lillian Borg fear they will have to sell their Tarneit home if their council rates are not reduced.
The elderly couple live on Tarneit Road in an area which was recently brought inside the urban growth boundary [UGB].
They have lived there for 21 years and describe it as an ideal place to call home.
Mrs Borg said it was a quiet area, with great neighbours and plenty of space to look after animals.
But she’s worried they will have to move after receiving a rates notice for $4500, up from $2200 last year.
The couple receives a pension of $500 a fortnight, which Mr Borg said would not be enough to cover their rates.
He also fears the increased value of their home will encourage Centrelink to reduce their pension and prevent them from accessing cheap medication for his asthma.
Mrs Borg said they would struggle to pay their rates and other expenses unless the valuation was reviewed.
“We will have to put $80 a week away to make sure we have enough money to pay our rates. By the time you think about paying for insurance, electricity, registration, petrol and water, there isn’t much left for groceries.”
While the move inside the UGB meant their land could be sold to developers, the couple say it would be some time before anyone wanted to buy in. The property is in the proposed Tarneit North precinct structure plan, which the Growth Areas Authority expects to complete next year. No one will be able to subdivide and develop land in the area until the PSP is approved.
“It will be 10 to 15 years until someone is coming to buy my house. That’s a lot of money to fork out in rates until we can sell. Where are we going to get the money?” Mr Borg said.
