EIGHT households are irate after learning they may pay tens of thousands of dollars for drainage upgrades required to develop land in Strathfieldsaye.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Two subdivisions have been approved on the site in the Guys Hill Road catchment area since it was rezoned in 2011 – despite it not having sufficient drainage infrastructure in place.
It wasn’t until August, however, that residents in the catchment were told they might be accounting for more than half the approximately $550,000 bill for the new drainage works to run down Guys Hill Road and parts of Tannery Lane.
On Monday, the City of Greater Bendigo gave each household a figure they might face if councillors decide to go ahead with a special charge scheme to pay for the underground storm water system.
Steve and Gail Pilcher are looking at $30,089.
“I get up early and go to work, mind my own business, and then you cop this,” the truck driver said.
“Why should we have to pay for a large storm water pipe when our current storm water drainage works perfectly fine?”
The residents first learnt of the scheme at a council resident meeting on August 24, in which the city said it would pay an estimated $94,000 towards the works and the two developers pay approximately $168,000.
The remaining costs – an estimated $288,000 – would be divided among residents according to land area.
The Pilchers’ home of more than 12-years is their castle, and while Mr Pilcher said he wasn’t opposed to development of his quiet patch of land – he didn’t want to pay for it.
“I’ve nothing against progress but this is making the little guys bleed and the big fish off the hook,” he said.
Council insists if the scheme went ahead, residents would only have to pay the fee once they sold or subdivided their property.
But of the five households the Bendigo Advertiser spoke with, only one had plans of selling.
John Holland has lived in the area his whole life, and while he wouldn’t admit his age, he was willing to give a hint.
“I’ve was awarded an OBE so I’m over bloody eighty,” he said.
I’m not subdividing but I'd certainly sell now, just to get away from this… it’s unbelievable.”
Mr Pilcher, however, spoke for several other households when he outlined his future plans.
“They’re sugar coating this by saying you can pay when you subdivide or sell – well I’m not subdividing and have no intention to sell now or in years to come,” he said.
Which may put council in something of an awkward position.
The city’s acting director of presentation and assets, Rachelle Quattrocchi, said councillors would decide whether or not the scheme goes ahead.
“We’re taking a gamble that people will contribute to this scheme, however if it doesn’t go ahead council will pay the full cost,” she said.
“The difficulty we face in that there is a lot of development in and around Bendigo and, as the city grows, we need to find ways to plan and budget for supporting infrastructure.”
Property lawyer Peter Mericka from Lawyers Conveyancing said special charge schemes were a legal option for the city – but one which would generate winners and losers.
“Some people think it's a great opportunity when their land is rezoned,” the Melbourne-based lawyer said.
“The problem is for those who want to stay put and not develop the land who may have to pay increased rates.
“So some people will say it is unfair but to others it is a boon… unfortunately that’s the way things are.
“Really, it is no different to land being compulsorily acquired for freeway – when there is development, something has to give.”
- Property lawyer Peter Mericka
“Their land is going to increase in value and as to whether want to realise that value by selling up when the price increases or if want to stay where they are, that is up to the property owner.”
The residents will find about what they have to give after councillors discuss endorsing the scheme when they meet tonight.
However, in the meantime, construction of the drainage pipe is expected to begin this month.
“There has been discussions with the developer and expectations that we do start construction, which can happen in parallel with this process – we are not making it mandatory that they pay in we are talking to them about scheme in which that would be one option,” Ms Quattrocchi said.
She stressed that landholders would have plenty of opportunities to have their say on the issue, and avenues to challenge the scheme if it was adopted by council.
And Mr Pilchard said he felt that, so far, he had received the kind of treatment which sent one fictional battler on a fight all the way to the High Court.
”I do feel a bit like Darryl Kerrigan,” he said.
