Ratepayers say new rate is unfair

Baw Baw Shire Council has been asked to abandon the differential rate on vacant land in the “interest of fairness”.

In a written submission on the council’s draft budget, due to go to tomorrow’s meeting of council for adoption, the shire’s ratepayers and citizens association described the 80 per cent extra to be levied on vacant land as an “unsubstantiated cash grab”.

The draft budget proposes a general rate of 0.4598 cents in the $ on capital improved values but a rate of 0.8277 cents on vacant land.

The higher differential rate on vacant land for the current financial year was 60 per cent.

The association says those that support the higher rate on vacant land argue it stops “land banking” but says it hasn’t been proven it achieves that.

The disused former Bonlac dairy factory site in Warragul is cited as an example where a higher rate has not led to development.

It says the policy is a “broad brush” approach when applied to the entire shire and did not acknowledge differences in the land markets of the 19 residential settlements in the shire.

“An aggressive vacant land differential rate also penalises those saving to buy and block of land and then saving to build a house”.

“Developers pass on the costs and people wonder why it is so difficult for those seeking to get their first home”.

The association described the rate as “reverse user pays” where landowners are contributing to the cost of the shire’s services without anybody living on the land.

It points out that Gippsland Water only charges a token service fee when water and sewerage mains pass a vacant block and electricity and telecommunications providers charge no fee under the same circumstances.

Council would do extremely well even if it only charged the general rate on vacant land, the submission states.

The word agriculture needs to be included in Baw Baw Shire’s council plan, according to Baw Baw Food Movement member Liz Clay.

Presenting a submission on behalf of the food movement, Ms Clay said there were references to “productive landscapes” but “the word agriculture is missing in the council plan.”

Ms Clay said there was a connection between healthy people and healthy landscapes in the plan.

But, she told council the plan need to ensure agriculture remained the preferred land us on the productive landscapes.

“Given that agriculture has been carved up so much, we need a strategy for food and agriculture in Baw Baw.

“We need to ensure that agriculture remains resilient and a viable use on those lands,” she said.