Lakeside ratepayers slugged in 8.8 per cent rise

By Melissa Grant
RATEPAYERS in Pakenham’s Lakeside estate will cop an 8.8 per cent rate rise after civic leaders adopted the council’s 2009/10 budget on Monday night.
The community had submitted a 230-signature petition to the Cardinia Shire Council, but councillors voted in favour of applying a three per cent surcharge on their rates notice to help pay for the upkeep of the estate’s parks and gardens.
Other ratepayers in the Cardinia Shire will pay an extra 5.8 per cent, on average, in rates in the coming financial year.
The three per cent surcharge means that Lakeside ratepayers will pay about 56 cents a week more than what most others pay in rates.
Cr Owen unsuccessfully tried to alter the budget to have the three per cent surcharge removed, amid concerns that applying it would set a precedent.
“What happens when the shire takes possession of parks and gardens in other estates?” he asked.
“Yes they should pay infrastructure rates, but no more than other new estates in Pakenham.”
But Cr Graeme Legge said the surcharge, which will raise about $63,000, was needed to help the council pay for the upkeep of the estate’s parks and gardens.
The council will spend $208,000 per year on maintenance in the estate, which has more than 36 hectares of open space. The sum includes $48,000 for upkeep of the lake.
Jack Mitchell, the chair of the Lakeside Community Development Forum, said the number of signatures on the petition were “a testament” to the feelings of the members of the Pakenham Lakeside community.
“We’re already being faced with additional costs to live in a wonderful community – but it’s not Toorak, it’s not South Yarra,” he said.
Pakenham Lakeside ratepayer Stuart Lindsay, who helped collect signatures for the petition, said many of the estate’s residents were against the surcharge.
He said ratepayers across the municipality benefited from the estate’s open spaces.
“Lakeside isn’t a gated community – the public has access at all times,” he said. “Do you not think this will create an us-and-them scenario?”
Cr Collin Ross was the only councillor to oppose the 5.8 per cent average rise.
Cr Ross said reduced rate rises was the main wish that ratepayers conveyed to him during the council election period.