Park Street, Portarlington | Special Rate and Charge Schemes at the City

Project Update - April 2024

At its meeting of 26 March 2024, Council resolved its intention to declare a special charge for the proposed road construction which will consist of road sealing with kerb and channel, including drainage upgrade.

A public notice was placed in the Geelong Times on Friday 12 April 2024, advertising its intention to declare a charge for this Special Charge Scheme. A copy of the notice will be sent to you.

The distribution of charges between property owners has been based on an access and amenity benefit based on the site value of each property to the works.

How to make a submission

As indicated in the public notice, you may make a submission, or objection regarding the scheme. Legislation determines that you must do this within 28 days of the public notice. Submissions and objections will be received up until 5pm Monday 20 May 2024. Council has a submissions review panel constituted for the purpose of considering submissions. You may elect to address the panel, however you must indicate your intention to do this, in your submission.

Submissions or objections in writing and should be addressed to:

Coordinator Revenue Property & Valuations, Financial Services

City of Greater Geelong

PO Box 104

GEELONG VIC 3220

or emailed to engineeringplans@geelongcity.vic.gov.au.

Background

In response to feedback received from the early engagement which took place in August/September 2022 to identify support for the unsealed roads in Portarlington to be sealed with kerb and channel, we surveyed and designed the roads and engaged again in August 2023. The results of that engagement indicated that only Park Street, Portarlington supported the road upgrade under a proposed SRC.

Further information regarding our special Rate and Charges Policy can be found here.

After consultation with your Bellarine Ward Councillors, we are engaging further with property owners in Park Street to confirm support for this road to be sealed with kerb and channel as a standalone project.

The estimated total cost of this road upgrade is:

Council Contribution (25% of works)	$109,388.50
Property Owners Contribution (75% of works)	$328,165.50
TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS	$437,554.00

As the proposal has changed, we re-invite you to complete our short survey. We require 50% or more support from respondents to proceed to the next stage.

There are a number of ways for you to do this:

Hello and welcome. This survey is available in languages other than English.

To change the language click the button at the top right corner of this page and select your preferred language.

You can provide your answers in your own language.

If you need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone the City of Greater Geelong on 03 5272 5272. Our business hours are 8.30am – 5.00pm.

This interpreting service is free.

Map of proposed road upgrade.

Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

Project Commences

Project Initiation commenced in April 2022.
Timeline item 2 - complete

Community Engagement

Benefitting property owners are invited to have their say on the proposed road sealing with kerb and channel upgrade via our survey.
Survey opens Tuesday 7 November 2023.
Timeline item 3 - complete

Community engagement closes

Survey closes 5pm Tuesday 5 December 2023.
Timeline item 4 - complete

Community Feedback Reviewed
Timeline item 5 - complete

Community informed of next steps

Letters were sent to all benefitting property owners to advise of the next steps on 12 December 2023. An Intention to Declare report will be provided to Council at the 26 March 2024 Council meeting.
Timeline item 6 - active

Intention to Declare Submission period open

Submission period open from 12 April 2024 - 5pm 20 May 2024.
Timeline item 7 - incomplete

Submission Review
Timeline item 8 - incomplete

Declaration report presented to Council
Timeline item 9 - incomplete

Residents informed of the outcome
Timeline item 10 - incomplete

Contract tender process / Procurement

An advert will be placed to invite tenders from construction companies to perform these works.
A contract will then be drawn up and signed. Residents will be notified when the works will commence.
Timeline item 11 - incomplete

Opportunity to object to VCAT

Benefitting property owners now have the opportunity to object to VCAT (Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal). Submissions close at 5pm on ?

Process steps explained

As outlined in the 1989 Local Government Act, the following statutory steps will be followed with every Special Rate and Charge Scheme.

The SRC process may be initiated by the City, property owners or residents within the area.

The level of preliminary investigation, survey and consultation will usually depend on the complexity of the issues surrounding the need for the infrastructure.

The City will seek the views of all those property owners who may be the subject of a scheme through an early engagement and make an assessment of the degree of support before proceeding to survey and design.

The Council views consultation as an essential element of all SRC Schemes. This may be done in various ways depending on the circumstances and may include correspondence, brochures, public meetings, personal contact etc.

Councilors and Council Officers are always available to provide information and importantly to receive feedback on property owner’s views and opinions.

The Local Government Act requires the City to carry out certain formal processes:

A report is presented with all details of a proposed SRC scheme and the City may resolve its “Intention to declare a "Special Rate or Charge”.

The scheme is then advertised (Geelong Advertiser) and at the same time a letter of advice sent to all owners.

The process provides for owners to make submissions and objections to Council regarding any aspect of the scheme, which must be lodged within 28 days.

A Submissions Review Panel of Councilors is then convened and submitters may address this Panel.

The Panel having considered all submissions and information makes a recommendation to the City.

A detailed report is then placed before the Council which includes the Submissions Review Panel recommendation.

If the Council resolve to proceed, the SRC Scheme is declared. The Council may at this stage also modify or abandon the scheme.

Given a resolution to declare the SRC Scheme, a notice is issued to each owner liable to pay the charge. This indicates the estimated amount of the rate or charge and advises of rights to seek a review via the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). An application to VCAT must be lodged within 30 days of the issue of the Council notice.

On application, VCAT will conduct a hearing and advise all parties of its decision.

Council will send a payment option form and, as instructed by the Local Government Act 2020 (Amendment ), start invoicing within 12 months of the scheme being declared.

When works are completed, the costs are finalised and an adjustment made to each owners costs to reflect the actual, final costs. Where the finalised actual costs are lower than the amount paid a refund will be provided.

On completion of works, a final report will be provided to Council to advise of the final costings. Residents will be advised of any cost adjustments at this time. Please note that in line with the Local Government Act 1989, should the project go over budget, residents will never be charged more that a further 10% or the original cost.

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Contact Us

Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:

Name	Alison McGorman, SRC Program Manager
Phone	03 5272 4608
Email	engineeringplans@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
Website	yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/
In writing	PO Box 104 Geelong Vic 3220

Back to SRC project home page

Phone	03 5272 5272
Email	contactus@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
Website	www.geelongaustralia.com.au

Phone

03 5272 5272

contactus@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

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Park Street, Portarlington SRC 362