IN ordinarily peaceful paddocks north of suburban Wyndham, where the roads fade into dirt tracks, some clear and defined battle lines are being drawn.
Tensions are running high among landholders who have been charged rates up to seven times higher than last year by Wyndham Council.
But with hundreds of ratepayers proving there’s strength in numbers, the council has a fight on its hands.
Tarneit resident Aaron Borg is rallying landholders for a fund-raising barbecue on Sunday in a bid to raise money for candidates at October’s council elections.
“We’re going to see how many people want to put their hands up,” he said.
“We want councillors to be accountable, to push some real change and know their jobs aren’t secure.”
Mr Borg (pictured) said the area’s landholders were working class people and pensioners who had been left shell-shocked after recent revaluations prompted massive rate rises.
“They’re saying we’re resting on a gold mine, but it could take up to 20 years for the developers to come.
“In the meantime, some of us are getting charged $15,000 in rates, the average is about $8000, which will be for the next 15-20 years. It’s council’s prerogative to adjust the rates to what they want them to be.”
The fund-raiser is at ‘Shirley’s Shed’, corner of Gard and Dohertys roads from midday.
