You’ll pay for fence alone

Council used to share the cost but now ...

CITY Hall will no longer stump up for fencing costs with neighbours adjoining public parks and reserves.

Acting general manager of city services Vicki Shelton said it had opted to fall in line with Victorian Government legislation amended in 2014, and would no longer contribute to construction of dividing fences.

People building next to public land will be required to pay in full.

Ms Shelton said a threemonth grace period would precede a February 1 starting date for the new stance. Beyond February 1 the city would not accept applications for halfcost fencing.

Victorian legislation says where a municipal council or other body or person owns or manages land for the purposes of a public park or reserve, then they are not considered to be an owner under the Fences Act and do not have to contribute to fencing works for a dividing fence between that land

“I’m surprised they haven’t cut it out before now ... It’s disappointing but I would say it’s a sign of the

times.”

and privately owned land.

Ms Shelton said several other regional councils were understood to be considering similar policy revisions but were waiting to gauge Geelong’s rollout.

Carole Doran of Geelong’s Surf City Fencing said the move was expected.

“I’m surprised they haven’t cut it out before now,” she said.

“It’s disappointing but I would say it’s a sign of the times.

“It just means people have got to pay for the whole lot themselves, but then again these things happen I guess.”