Surf Beach and Sunderland Bay ratepayers overwhelmingly rejected a roads and drainage upgrade
By Catherine Watson
BASS Coast Shire Council this week formally dumped the Surf Beach Sunderland Bay special charge scheme, acknowledging most owners did not want to pay for the $32 million upgrade.
After 18 months of often bitter debate, and over $500,000 spent by the council, the road and drainage scheme was formally abandoned at yesterday’s council meeting.
The council will review its urban roads and drainage policy next year, following a couple of expensive failures to progress special charge schemes in recent years,
BASS Coast Shire Council this week formally dumped the Surf Beach Sunderland Bay special charge scheme, acknowledging most owners did not want to pay for the $32 million upgrade.
After 18 months of often bitter debate, and over $500,000 spent by the council, the road and drainage scheme was formally abandoned at yesterday’s council meeting.
The council will review its urban roads and drainage policy next year, following a couple of expensive failures to progress special charge schemes in recent years,
| While two smaller projects – Tenby Point and Pioneer Bay – have been completed, larger schemes seem destined to fail under the process. Cape Paterson ratepayers also overwhelmingly rejected a roads and drainage proposal back in 2014. The Surf Beach Sunderland Bay scheme received 559 objections from property owners which equated to 54 per cent of the total of 1041 property owners. Under the Local Government Act, if more than half of property owners lodge objections to the proposed special charge scheme, then the project cannot proceed. There were just 133 submissions of support. |  |
Cr Rochelle Halstead said the process had divided the community.
“I wish to highlight the total frustration felt by both supporters and non-supporters of council’s process when seeking to provide basic infrastructure for the basic health and wellbeing of our ratepayers.
“It is evident through not only this process but others that council takes its policies strategy as absolute and it should not. These documents should be used as a guide and should be fluent and flexible. Sometimes good governance is about doing what is right and good rather than absolute.”
“I wish to highlight the total frustration felt by both supporters and non-supporters of council’s process when seeking to provide basic infrastructure for the basic health and wellbeing of our ratepayers.
“It is evident through not only this process but others that council takes its policies strategy as absolute and it should not. These documents should be used as a guide and should be fluent and flexible. Sometimes good governance is about doing what is right and good rather than absolute.”
“The proposal has caused significant division in a once quiet and respectful hamlet of our shire.” Cr Rochelle Halstead
Cr Halstead said while ratepayers had rejected the scheme, the council should not abandon residents of Surf Beach and Sunderland Bay. “Residents in this area still suffer the environmental effects of dust, drainage dangers and flooding and ways to ease these effects should be sought as a matter of urgency.”
Cr David Rooks said the council had spent half a million dollars and was looking to put several million more into the scheme. several million dollars into the project as well.
“The council consulted with the community on many occasions and came back with the cheapest and most feasible option to meet the requirements
“I’m disappointed from the no campaign that confused the messaging and made it difficult for the community of Sunderland Bay Surf Beach and I feel for those people that wanted to get this through. But 54 per cent have said no and we need to respect their vote as well.”
After it became clear the scheme had failed, the council received a petition of 317 signatures requesting it not to abandon the special charge scheme.
Bass Coast Mayor Clare Le Serve said that while there was not enough support from the community to proceed, smaller sections could be considered. “If there is a street or small area where at least 70 per cent of property owners support an upgrade in the future, it could be considered under Council’s Urban Road and Drainage Policy.”
“In the meantime, Council will continue to maintain the existing gravel roads and associated roadside drains in accordance with current practices.”
Cr David Rooks said the council had spent half a million dollars and was looking to put several million more into the scheme. several million dollars into the project as well.
“The council consulted with the community on many occasions and came back with the cheapest and most feasible option to meet the requirements
“I’m disappointed from the no campaign that confused the messaging and made it difficult for the community of Sunderland Bay Surf Beach and I feel for those people that wanted to get this through. But 54 per cent have said no and we need to respect their vote as well.”
After it became clear the scheme had failed, the council received a petition of 317 signatures requesting it not to abandon the special charge scheme.
Bass Coast Mayor Clare Le Serve said that while there was not enough support from the community to proceed, smaller sections could be considered. “If there is a street or small area where at least 70 per cent of property owners support an upgrade in the future, it could be considered under Council’s Urban Road and Drainage Policy.”
“In the meantime, Council will continue to maintain the existing gravel roads and associated roadside drains in accordance with current practices.”