Special charge scheme for footpaths declared

The City of Greater Geelong wants to raise money for footpaths along two streets in Highton and Grovedale through a special charge scheme, despite most of the affected properties being against it.
At their meeting last week, councillors gave notice of their intention to declare a scheme to partially fund the footpaths along part of the south side of Roslyn Road, Highton, and along the part of south side of Pioneer Road, Grovedale.
The scheme will be declared for five years from the completion of the works.
The council has calculated a benefit ratio of 0.32 for both projects, and will thus pay most of the cost.
The 600 metres of Roslyn Road footpath will be funded by a $147,625 council contribution and a $69,471 property owner contribution, while the 650 metres of Pioneer Road footpath will be funded by a council contribution of $154,132 and a property owner contribution of $73,148.
However, most of the affected properties surveyed by the council have responded with negative feedback, including that the paths were too expensive, the large variance in cost between properties (which ranges between $1,381.01 and $8,028.18), and residents not wanting or needing a footpath.
The report to councillors states that as the council will be funding the majority of works, “legislation says that the property owners have no voting rights to this proposal”.
“This means that a majority of objection will not render the scheme invalid and council has a right to ‘impose’ a charge.”
Cr Lindsay Ellis said the council had received requests over the years “from residents and the wider community for a footpath at both sites, and their construction is an important link in our priority footpath network”.
“The need for better pedestrian access is particularly evident in Roslyn Road, where an existing ‘goat track’ is well worn on the nature strip between Remony Avenue and Thornhill Road.”