FRUSTRATED landowners on the Burns Road industrial estate in Altona say they are collectively paying $135,000 in Hobsons Bay Council rates without being able to develop their “dead land”.
The council was tight-lipped about the land at its November 27 meeting, refusing to read out any of a raft of questions presented by landowners during public question time.
Lana Popovic Sergi said the council was collecting people’s rates without helping them make something of their investment.
“Rates are $67 per quarter, which makes up $268 a year per block,” she said.
“We have 504 lots on the site, which makes it $135,000 a year for the whole site. And that actually excludes our lot that we’re paying another additional $5500 for — just for our lot. That’s the big one — two hectares.”
She said owners were also being charged for water. “There are no services on it and we’re paying $22-$55 per quarter — it depends on the lot — for non-existent water.”
The estate was subdivided in 1929 and comprises about 500 lots with an average size of 640 square metres. It was originally zoned residential, but is now zoned special use zone 4, which provides for various land uses that do “not prejudice the operations and expansion of the petrochemical industry”.
The council’s planning scheme also stipulates that lots under two hectares can’t be developed.
Owners are angry as they say their attempts to consolidate their land have been met with “obstacle after obstacle”.
Donald Hill, who owns two blocks, was fuming after last week’s council meeting.
“When I rang the council to ask them about the property, they said, no, you can’t develop it because of the petroleum industry that’s around. They keep bringing that up.”
Another landowner, Mal Gigiglio, said: “The behaviour of the council’s disgusting. We’re sitting on dead land. They’re collecting money; we’re getting nothing for it. There’s no power, no gas, no nothing.”
Landowner John Hayes questioned whether the council had its own plans for the land. “Are they going to put a major container yard in there and run the containers from the ships when they build that new [expansion] at Webb Dock? Is that their plan?”
In March, Salta Properties managing director Sam Tarascio announced it had entered into a partnership with Qube Logistics to “push ahead with the development of inland transport hubs at Lyndhurst and Altona”.
A major rail-based warehouse will be developed at Altona inland port for Qube before the end of next year.
Burns Road spokesman Michael Sergi said he believed the estate could be strategically important for the Altona inland port. “We heard over at Hobsons Bay on Tuesday night that Salta was putting in an amendment to run [the inland port] 24 hours. I’m under the impression that this land that all the landowners are holding is a big deal for the rail. It’s the only block of land left that would allow the expansion for the rail. We believe the rail is coming there, otherwise Salta wouldn’t be spending all that money to try and run it 24 hours.
“We’ve got 100 acres over here. It’s naked land that no one can do anything with, in the condition it’s in.
“I don’t understand why council hasn’t done anything to help. It’s put nothing but obstacles in front.”
Mayor Angela Altair would not comment beyond a statement that read: “The restructure of land in Burns Road is a complex matter that has significant history behind it.
“The council will continue to have ongoing discussions with concerned landowners and other stakeholders regarding the future of the site.
“My fellow councillors and I will be fully briefed on these issues.”
The office of Planning Minister Matthew Guy did not respond by the time of going to press.
