Greater Shepparton City Council has released a draft Special Charge Scheme Policy for public consultation.
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McPherson Media Group
Greater Shepparton residents may soon have the opportunity to work with council on infrastructure upgrades they’d like to implement around their property — but they’ll have to chip in for some of the costs.
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If the special charge policy is implemented, it would give residents or council the power to initiate specific projects to upgrade infrastructure — such as installing drainage systems, or constructing or upgrading roads or footpaths — around residential or commercial properties.
Residents could soon have the power to initiate upgrades to roads and footpaths.
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Megan Fisher
However, it would mean beneficiaries of specific projects would have to contribute to the cost.
Council developed the special charge policy in response to the growing number of inquiries it received regarding upgrading council assets.
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said projects affected by the special charge policy “are not things that happen every day”.
He said it would give residents the opportunity to benefit from infrastructure upgrades they wanted to implement.
“This is a really good policy that brings people together to get an improved outcome which might not be being delivered ... to a level that the resident or business owners believe it should be,” Cr Sali said.
“(If) you just want an upgrade of what’s currently being offered ... and it’s above and beyond what’s there now, then the expectation would be that you would make a contribution to that.
“Because as it stands ... the road or drainage is classified and able to cater for what you’re currently doing.”
Cr Geoff Akers moved the motion and encouraged the community to have a look at the policy.
“It’s important when the community want to upgrade assets ... in their facility, that we have a process by which they can do it,” he said.
“There’s not all aspects of it I agree with, but I’m more than happy for it to go out to public consultation.”
Cr Rod Schubert also encouraged people to submit comments regarding the policy.
However, some councillors had concerns, including Fern Summer, who said the policy would be charging some ratepayers for infrastructure that is “core council responsibility”.
“I feel like charging residents and business owners for those essential things is double dipping in our rates,” she said.
“It’s proposed to charge individual homeowners, residents and businesses for infrastructure that we should provide anyway.
“Not everybody who is impacted by a special charge can even afford to pay the special charge.
“If we can’t afford to do it in the usual rate-paying system, then we probably can’t afford to do it at all.”
Regarding concerns some residents might not be able to contribute, Cr Sali said there would be discussions during negotiations.
“This is not about council enforcing measures,” he said.
“It’s about being able to bring people around the table to have a discussion.
“There might be multiple properties and property owners involved in these potential upgrades, and one may not be in a position to, or want to do it.”
Cr Sam Spinks said by council releasing the policy for public consultation, it gave an “element” of council endorsing it.
Ultimately the motion was passed with Crs Sali, Akers, Schubert, Kieron Eddy and Anthony Brophy voting for, and Crs Spinks, Summer and Paul Wickham voting against.
Cr Steven Threlfall was absent.
Council is accepting community submissions regarding the special charge policy from Monday, August 4 to Friday, September 12.
