BROOKLYN property owners are considering action against Brimbank
council over its decision to impose a special charge to fund the sealing
of Bunting Road.
Fifteen landholders initially faced a $2.7-million bill in October last year, but that was reduced to $1.8 million last month when the state government chipped in $900,000.
The project is part of a broader program to tackle high levels of
dust in the industrial precinct partly caused by unsealed surfaces.
Property owners have been asked to cough up between $654 and
$364,360, depending on factors such as land area, access and amenity.
Eight landholders have objected and, in a legal letter to council,
one business said it did not use the road so should not have to pay.
“The proposed special charge will not provide a
special benefit,” one wrote. “The basis for the distribution of the
special charge is . . . unnecessary, unreasonable, excessive,
insufficient and costly.”
Another argued: “We object to any charge being proposed for our
property, as the part of Bunting Road adjacent to our property is
already sealed. We do not object to the construction of the road in
principle, just paying for it.”
The council’s infrastructure and environment director, Paul
Younis, said two businesses had taken council to the Victorian Civil and
Administrative Tribunal over a similar charge for nearby Jones Road.
Council administrator Jane Nathan said the scheme would help revitalise the area.
“The winners will be those sitting on Jones and Bunting roads,” she said. “It’s a great leap forward for the area.”
