Shire’s footpaths affair to remember on national television

ERIN PEARSON
JAN JUC residents have taken their fight against a special charge scheme for footpaths to national television.
Channel 9’s A Current Affair contacted them after reading that Surf Coast Shire would take Supreme Court action to overturn a state planning tribunal ruling against the scheme.
Residents fear the shire will push ahead with the footpaths charges if it wins.
Councillors voted for court action last week to prevent a “legal precedent” allowing ratepayers to beat special charge schemes.
Lead objector Steve Burton said Tuesday night’s television story would not be the last council hears from the residents.
“We’re still looking at (our) options…and not ruling anything out. This is by no means done and dusted.”
Jan Juc’s Holly McIntosh urged council to “move on”.
“We’re all appalled with the shire’s inability to listen to the community. We’ve voiced that we do not want ugly cement footpaths and to expect us to pay for something none of us want is ridiculous.”
Shire chief executive officer Mark Davies said in a press release that council would decide whether to implement the footpath charges after the Supreme Court appeal.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s Nicholas Hadjigeorgiou ruled against the scheme because the proposed footpaths would not benefit many properties.
Residents and ratepayers lodged more than 900 objections against the $2.3 million scheme.