ROADBLOCK: Residents question council road sealing bill

PORTARLINGTON residents could be forced to pay up to triple the estimated cost of road sealing for their residential streets under a City of Greater Geelong special charge proposal.

Locals had supported the program when its cost was estimated at about $10,000 last year, but the city is now gauging support for a build priced much higher.

The city has sent a proposed special rates charge (SRC) to residents for the sealing of seven dirt roads across Portarlington: Goodwill, Langdon, Traum, Willis, Harding, Park and Welfare streets.

The works are expected to cost $4.25 million. The city would pay $1.06 million, with the remaining $3.19 million to be split between about 200 benefiting property owners.

The charge is now out for consultation and would require residents to pay for the project if it receives majority support.

Local resident Peter Walker said he was shocked to receive the inflated figures that he said completely changed his view on the project.

“They did say [last year] ‘We haven’t costed it properly, but we think it’ll be around [$10,000] for this household’.

“That’s why when my wife and I we talked about it we said well, given that you can pay it off over five years, even though it’s not interest free, we could probably do that.

“But 28 grand? We have no hope.

“I’m on the age pension, my wife works two days a week. There’s no way that we could.”

Mr Walker started a petition last year to include Langdon Street between High and Harding streets in the SRC, when city officers suggested it would cost about $10,000 for the affected properties.

But the proposed SRC released last month would charge several Langdon Street properties between $20,000 and $30,000.

SRCs are used when an infrastructure project would benefit a small group of property owners but not the wider community, and the city charges local residents for part of the project.

The city stated that it distributed the costs of the works based on property value.

City of Greater Geelong acting city infrastructure executive director David Greaves said increasing construction costs had blown out its initial estaimtes.

“If the works go ahead, we will aim to achieve the fairest price for the highest quality work through our tender process.

“Once the consultation period is complete, staff will compile a report and make a recommendation to the council on whether to declare the scheme or not.”

Mr Greaves also indicated SRCs would fall under the city’s financial hardship policy, meaning property owners could negotiate different payment arrangements if required.

He encouraged impacted residents to have their say on the SRC.

“This project is still in the consultation phase and will only go ahead with the support of the property owners involved.

“We are inviting the property owners to participate in a survey to determine their level of support.”

City officers were in Portarlington on Tuesday to answer questions about the special charge.

A survey is now open to collect community feedback, and closes on August 17.