By Dongyun Kwon
After two years of dispute between Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) and the residents, the special charge scheme (SCS) issue in Healesville reached its conclusion.
An alternate motion was suggested by Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister that Crosley Street be removed from the SCS for the road maintenance construction of Campbell Road, Crosley Street and Pilmer Road, Healesville at Tuesday 10 September’s council meeting.
Cr McAllister said this item has caused great confusion in the community.
“I thought it had been resolved, but it was identified that the official, formal decision of council still included Crosley Street to be part of this specific SCS,” she said.
“We’re resolving an administrative error to remove Crosley Street, and it will be renamed as the Campbell Road, Pilmer Road SCS.
“We will tidy up this issue so there is no confusion with the residents.”
YRC, at its meeting on 14 June 2022, considered a report relating to the proposed construction of Campbell Road, Crosley Street and Pilmer Road, Healesville to help address road maintenance, dust and stormwater runoff issues, and resolved to declare a special charge in accordance with the provisions of Section 163 of the Local Government Act 1989.
Prior to the declaration of the special charge, landowners were informed and consulted about the project, and they had opportunities to comment or object to the SCS throughout the statutory process which takes approximately six months to progress through.
The process included the initial questionnaire, landowner briefing, intent to levy report, section 223 public notice and right to make a submission, declaration report and option to make a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) application for review.
In March 2021, 81 per cent of landowners responded in support of the scheme.
After the declaration of the special charge and the VCAT appeals period had lapsed, the council received a joint letter signed by various landowners in Crosley Street, raising objections to the inclusion of Crosley Street in the SCS.
In response, YRC conducted an additional survey of residents’ support to determine the extent of the shift in support; only landowners in Crosley Street were surveyed.
A slight majority of landowners, six out of 11, did not support the construction of the road.
Cr McAllister said she noted the reasons for the non support of the majority of residents.
“Affordability, even when it’s a $7000 cap, vegetation impact were the main reasons,” she said.
“But those that were in support had drainage concerns and continue to do so.
“We will continue to have conversations with them and work with them to try and find a way to resolve their drainage concerns.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
