Springs ‘win’ on drain levy

Kim Waters
CLIFTON Springs’ residents have triumphed over a council scheme to charge home owners thousands of dollars upfront for drainage works, according to Geelong councillors.
They voted this week to instead offer a “deferred payment option” for residents to pay the levy only after selling or further developing their properties.
Mayor John Mitchell said the proposed main drain in Central Road would also service homes in Jetty Road, Ada Street and Thomas Street.
The Independent revealed in April that Melbourne-based company Pinnacle Living’s plans for a retirement home on eight hectares fronting Central Road required construction of a new drain
Residents faced levies of up to $250,000 to cover the cost.
Cr Mitchell said a panel that considered residents’ objections had recommended that council proceed with the scheme on the deferred payment basis.
“Council has negotiated an agreement with the developer of the retirement village land under which the developer will provide and fund the main drain up front. As part of the agreement council is to initiate a special charge scheme for cost recovery from the surrounding benefiting landowners.”
Cr Mitchell said the new payment option was an “excellent result for the residents as well as for the developers”.
But Drysdale Clifton Springs Community Association’s Patrick Hughes slammed the decision, saying residents who declined to pay up-front faced increases in their levies of up to five per cent a year.
“For example, if a household defers a special charge of $10,000 for five years it owes $12,762 and if it defers for 10 years it owes $16,288,” Mr Hughes said.
“The deferral option is a major change in the council’s special charge policy and…council introduced it after it exhibited the original proposal for public scrutiny and comment.”