Casey Council will fund 25 per cent of improvements to new local roads through future special charge schemes under a proposed revision to the current policy.
Special charge schemes allow Council to fund the construction of new infrastructure such as roads, footpaths and drains through a charge on specific ratepayers that receive special benefit from the works. These benefits may include reduced dust and better access to properties.
Currently, residents choosing to take part in special charge schemes for local roads are required to fund 100 per cent of the cost. However, following a review of the policy, a number of changes have been proposed including:
- introducing a five-year Special Charge Scheme Program to plan and prioritise the delivery of schemes according to community demand and strategic importance to the municipal road, path and drainage networks;
- increasing Council’s contribution for construction and asphalting of unsealed local roads to 25 percent of the cost of the works;
- revising the cost cap per property for construction and asphalting of unsealed collector and secondary arterial roads to $25,000 per property.
Casey Mayor, Cr Susan Serey said special charge schemes were a way that Council could assist with the construction of local roads that Council could not afford to do otherwise.
“We have more than 120 kilometres of unsealed roads across the City of Casey and Council simply doesn’t have the funds to seal all of them,” Cr Serey said.
“By providing a special charge scheme, residents who want to seal their road, and who will reap the benefits in a very direct way, are able to contribute to the cost of the works and have them done.
“The new process we are planning to introduce will see local roads built quicker and with Council paying part of the costs, it will also been more affordable for residents than would be possible under the current scheme.”
Council is seeking community feedback on the revised Special Charge Scheme policy via the Casey Conversations website: . The consultation period will be open until Friday 28 February.
“We welcome all suggestions from the community that can help to make this scheme easier for residents to take up. I encourage residents who have an interest in this scheme to visit the Casey Conversations page and have your say on the new policy,” Cr Serey said.
Following the consultation period, a further report is scheduled to go to Council in late March 2020.
