Anger at path charge

MICHELLE HERBISON
COUNCIL charges on ratepayers for a proposed footpath at Portarlington “don’t add up”, according to a resident.
Colin Evans said he thought the Fisher St footpath would have to be “four-foot thick” to cost council’s estimate of $102,295.
“We think it’s just a money grab because residents will pay for it. Council seems to target Portarlington for user-pays schemes but whatever they touch they bugger up.”
The Independent reported earlier this year that 20 Fisher St properties would each pay a share of $51,147, with council bearing the other half.
Mr Evans said no one would use the new path along three blocks on the street’s western side and one on the right because paths were already on the opposite side of the road.
“Ninety-nine per cent of people are against it. There wouldn’t be two people a day walk down this side of the street.”
Mr Evans said he would struggle to pay the estimated $2839 for his 21-metre frontage because he was retired and on a pension.
“I’ll just have to pull the money out of some savings or something. I’ll definitely object and neighbours both sides of me will be as well.”
A City of Greater Geelong spokesperson said the footpaths would be an “essential community link” .
“The special charge procedure is standard practice for the provision of backlog infrastructure in cases such as this.”
The spokesperson said affected property owners could apply for council to consider their “economic circumstances”.
Work would begin in mid-2012 if council decided to proceed after considering submissions.