Couple’s claims of council fee ‘bullying’
A BANNOCKBURN couple claim the Golden Plains Shire Council is “bullying” them into paying a $13,500 fee to subdivide their land, even though the charge is supposed to be voluntary.
Marita and Stephen Biggs have three buyers ready to purchase portions of their 2ha Stevensons Rd block but cannot finalise the sale because the shire is withholding their compliance certificate.
The shire wants the Biggses to pay a development contribution fee, but their surveyor argues it is not compulsory because the shire does not have a development contributions plan.
In a statement, the council confirmed it did not have a development contributions plan.
The council would not confirm if the payments were voluntary, only stating that payments applied under its policy.
Development contributions are payments for facilities or services, such as parks or recreation spaces, that are required to meet the future needs of the community.
“They’re (the council) sort of holding us to ransom,” Mrs Biggs said. “It’s been a nightmare this past two months.”
The Biggs have already paid $30,000 to the shire as an open space contribution, which is also used to create open spaces such as public parks, playgrounds and reserves, and on Monday gave in and paid a negotiated $7000 community development contribution.
Their surveyor said the extra fee was not included in the permit conditions of the land and thus was voluntary.
The council would not provide the Geelong Advertiser with a formal response, but said a minimum contribution of $4500 per lot in Bannockburn and $1500 in the rest of the shire applied on all subdivisions and developments.
Mr Biggs said the money “just went straight into council coffers”.
“This is our superannuation — I’ve worked for myself. We’ve borrowed a lot of money to do this,” he said. “We’ve got no money until it titles.”
A State Government spokeswoman said the shire was responsible for the application and enforcement of permit requirements under its local planning scheme and council policies, including matters relating to development contributions plans.