Shire ”slug” anger

Hamish Heard
A secret plan to slug Torquay and Jan Juc homeowners with higher rates to pay for a new shire precinct has angered residents.
The towns’ ratepayers association has joined local councillors to condemn the proposal to single out Torquay and Jan Juc residents from the rest of the shire.
Torquay councillor Ron Humphrey confirmed council had discussed imposing a differential rate, describing the proposal as “outrageous”.
Landowner Charlie Santospirito last year confirmed to the Independent that the shire had approached him about purchasing a large block of vacant land for the project at the Geelong Road entrance to Torquay.
The shire had earlier announced plans to move shire offices and other council services to a new civic precinct as well as sport facilities, a new library and a visitor information centre.
Cr Humphrey said slugging Torquay and Jan Juc ratepayers with a rates increase to pay for a facility to serve the entire shire population was unfair.
“I just think that the new shire offices and civic precinct will obviously have a net benefit for the whole shire, so it seems unfair in the extreme to target Torquay and Jan Juc ratepayers with yet another rate increase,” Cr Humphrey told the Independent.
“We outlined our projected rate increases for a five-year period and we haven’t been able to meet that commitment for the past two years. I’d be outraged if it was broken for a third time.”
Torquay councillor Keith Grossman said he would also oppose the proposal.
Surf Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association secretary Lyn Smith said members would fight any plan to single out Torquay and Jan Juc.
“When it was bought up in the ratepayers’ meeting one of the members remarked that there will be riot and civil disobedience if this plan gets up,” Mrs Smith said.
“I think that pretty much summed it up.”
But Surf Coast Mayor Rose Hodge played down the threat of Torquay and Jan Juc paying higher rates to pay for the new shire offices.
“We haven’t decided on anything at this stage,” Cr Hodge said
“We’re throwing everything open to see what might be used (to pay for the facility) and it’s just a bit premature to be speculating about which way we’ll go.”
Cr Hodge said the shire was still negotiating with landowners, including Mr Santospirito, about a site for the project.