By BEN CAMERON
MEMBER for Gembrook Brad Battin has thrown his support behind a group of angry retirement village residents in Berwick who believe they deserve a discount on their council rates.
Mr Battin tabled a petition in parliament late last year on behalf of 88 residents, calling on government to introduce legislation requiring local government rates to be adjusted for villages.
The petition argued that “retirement villages in Victoria do not use the level of services that are offered by local government to all residents, and as a retirement village has many individual properties the rates paid are well in excess of a standard housing block”.
“As part of the review for the drafting of legislation, the government would be required to review the current practice across all local government areas and assess the most suitable and sustainable outcome,” it read.
Mr Battin said he had been contacted by several groups including residents living at Berwick’s Fiddlers Green retirement village..
“I have had a few groups approach me recently,” he said.
“Some of these residents have their own library services, they don’t drive, they don’t access the services councils provide.”
Fiddlers Green resident David Perkins told the Gazette earlier this month his annual rates were more than when he lived on his previous property in Heathmont.
Mr Perkins paid $1409 in his final year when he left the property in September 2010, and now pays $1479 in his unit at the village.
“We pay a substantial amount for maintenance ($3600),” he said.
“As our finances diminish, the costs of power, fuel and a constant increase in the rates are a cause of worry for many residents.”
He said it was ludicrous the City of Casey offered no discounts while other councils offered significant reductions.
He said he was aware of village residents in Knox who were paying just $500 per year.
