RSL up in arms over road fees

By Kath Gannaway
UPPER Yarra RSL says its status as a charity has been ignored in the distribution of charges for a proposed $542,000 road scheme for Settlement Road and Benwerrin Lane in Yarra Junction.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges has notified property owners of its intent to make the roads and drains under a special charge scheme.
RSL treasurer Geoff Smith told the Mail that under the scheme the RSL would pay $77,400, BRL Hardy, which owns a vineyard on Settlement Road, would pay $58,100 and the shire would contribute $175,500, including $12,900 for the Wesburn Cemetery’s section of Settlement Road.
Mr Smith said the remaining $230,900 would come from other residents of the two roads.
Speaking ahead of a formal submission to the council on Tuesday 9 October, Mr. Smith said the RSL had a number of concerns about the way the council had come up with the formula.
“Our concern is at two levels.
“Upper Yarra RSL is classified as a charity and we’re somewhat miffed that we have been classified as a commercial unit. We have 12 times the cost of any other allotment,” he said.
Mr Smith said there was a misconception the organisation was making a lot of money because it operated poker machines, a restaurant and a bar.
“In fact, we’re just turning a profit and at the end of the day anything we do make goes back to the wider community,” he said.
Mr Smith said the RSL, at a time when it is preparing to undertake a significant rebuilding project, would be looking at an additional $30,000 (above the set cost) to finance the road building.
“On that basis the sealing of the road would have to increase our revenue by something like 30 per cent for us to get to the point where the road costs were breaking even,” he said.
Mr Smith said the RSL was also concerned that Benwerrin was being included in the total scheme, resulting in Settlement Road property owners being asked to subsidise the four Benwerrin Lane property owners.
“I can understand that Settlement Road is a government road, but Benwerrin has only four allotments and for it to be incorporated is piggybacking on others. We don’t see why Settlement Road should be paying for Benwerrin,” he said.
Mr Smith said although the cemetery occupies more than a quarter of the 1700 metres to be made, it is not liable to meet any of the costs because it is on Crown land.
“It seems a bit ordinary from an equity perspective that they have seen fit to classify us as commercial when the cemetery, which offers and charges for a commercial service, is not making any contribution,” he said.
Shire of Yarra Ranges community relations manager James Martin said council apportioned costs according to the perceived benefit received by each of the participating properties.
“An established formula exists which involves a contribution by property owners and the council,” he said.
“The level of council contribution depends on a number of factors and, in particular, the amount of through traffic using the road. In terms of the derived benefit, the RSL, as a fairly busy club with poker machines (it currently has 20 machines and a permit for a further 10), does generate a significant amount of traffic along Settlement Road. The RSL and its patrons will benefit as a result of the construction of the road.”
Mr Martin said the council had sent out the Intent to Levy Report to residents following community consultation to determine the level of support for a Special Charge Scheme to go ahead.
“We are seeking people’s views on this and have invited the RSL to lodge a formal submission, which we will take into consideration,” Mr Martin said.