Rate change

By Tania Martin
MOUNT Evelyn pensioners are furious over Yarra Ranges Council’s refusal to offer a differential rate for retirement villages.
Evelyn Ridge Retirement Resort residents recently (12 March) met with Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan to discuss their concerns.
The row resurfaced following a recent decision which saw nearby Warmsley Village in Kilsyth receive a rate reduction.
One resident said it was ‘pissy’ the retirement village occupants had to pay the same as everyone else.
They believe the council should be striking a differential rate for those in retirement villages.
But Cr Heenan said the call for such a rating system had been quashed by the council on two separate occasions.
Shire director of corporate services Rebecca McKenzie said the only reason Warmsley had received a reduction was that the wrong information had been given to the council during the evaluation process.
This led to an average reduction of $86 per unit at the village.
Ms McKenzie said the initial appeal had been on council’s method of evaluation.
But she said that was dropped after it was revealed it was a State Government methodology that was being applied to the rates.
Ms McKenzie said because the reduction for Warmsley was based on a re-evaluation and not the council’s methods, it couldn’t promise there would be any flow-on affect at other retirement villages in the shire.
Executive officer for property rating services John Windsor explained to the Evelyn Ridge residents how the rates were struck.
He said the amount of rates paid were valued depending on how much the property was purchased for.
Resident Maureen Scuds said it was disgraceful what the council was charging the village occupants, especially when they are already paying for their own roads and other facilities.
“When we buy into a retirement village we are paying for a lifestyle which now covers all our facilities we look after and pay for,” she said.
Ms Scuds said it was ridiculous people living in bigger houses who may have paid the same price were paying the same or less for their rates.
“My family lives in a bigger home in Lilydale and even they couldn’t believe the rate I am paying here,” she said.
But Cr Heenan said the shire’s hands were tied as they were only following the methodology set down by the State Government.
“Apart from going back to a full council meeting and asking for a differential rate for Billanook, it’s business as usual,” he said.
However, a Local Government Victoria spokeswoman said there were provisions under the Local Government Act which gives councils the discretion to waive or differentiate rates for individuals or by class of ratepayers on the basis of financial hardship.
Evelyn Ridge resident Harley Brown questioned why the council couldn’t follow the neighbouring City of Knox’s lead.
“They have a differential rate, why can’t we?” he asked.
But Cr Heenan said the council previously had ruled against such a move.
Mr Brown said residents at the village not only paid for their home but for the roads, lighting, security and facilities around Evelyn Ridge.
“We should get some allowances for what we provide that the council doesn’t ever have to do anything about in the future,” he said.