Notice of intention to declare a special charge scheme
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In accordance with a resolution of Merri-bek City Council (Council) made at its meeting on 11 May 2022, notice is given that, at its meeting on 14 September 2022, it is Council’s intention to declare a Special Charge (Special Charge) under section 163(1) of the Local Government 1989 (Act) for the purposes of defraying expenses to be incurred by the Council in (administratively only and subject always to the approval, direction and control of the Council) providing funds to the incorporated body known and operating as Central Coburg Business Association Inc (CCBA), such funds to be used for the purposes of defraying promotional, advertising, marketing and business development expenses as approved by Council and agreed to between Council and CCBA, all of which are associated with the encouragement of commerce, retail and professional activity and employment in the Central Coburg Shopping Precinct (Precinct).
The Special Charge will be based on geographic criteria, having regard to the location and ownership or occupation of those rateable properties in the Precinct which are used, or reasonably capable of being used, for commercial, (including retail and professional) purposes, together with their respective tiered benefit classifications further details of which are set out below.
The Special Charge is to be declared, and will remain in force, for the period commencing 1 October 2022 and ending on 30 June 2027.
During the period of the Special Charge Scheme (Scheme), a total amount of $1,020, 320.03 is expected to be levied.
The land and the properties in relation to which the Scheme is to be declared is all the land and properties described in the following street addresses -
- 311-517 (inclusive) and 322-502 (inclusive) Sydney Road, Coburg;
- 94-124 (inclusive) and 81B-133 (inclusive) Bell Street, Coburg;
- 2-8 (inclusive) and 1-25 (inclusive) Munro Street, Coburg;
- All properties in Louisa Street, Coburg;
- All properties in Victoria Street, Coburg; and
- All properties in Waterfield Street, Coburg.
The Special Charge will be assessed and levied on the basis of amounts calculated by reference to the capital improved value (CIV) of each property included in the Scheme (such values to be initially determined and as in force as at 1 April 2022).
For the first 9 months of the Scheme (being for the period 1 October 2022 to 30 June 2023), the following amounts are specified as being payable by those properties in the following tiered benefit classifications (in order to raise a pro rata amount of $155,280.39):
Tier 1 (CIV $0 - $149,999.99) properties pay $210.62
Tier 2 (CIV $150,000 - $299,999.99) properties pay $281.59
Tier 3 (CIV $300,000 - $739,999.99) properties pay $331.19
Tier 4 (CIV $740,000 - $999,999.99) properties pay $466.27
Tier 5 (CIV $1,000,000 - $1,999,999.99) properties pay $875.30 and
Tier 6 (CIV $2,000,000 plus) properties pay $1415.60
For the second year of the Scheme (being for the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024), the following amounts are specified as being payable by those properties in the following tiered benefit classifications (in order to raise an amount of $1920.49):
Tier 1 (CIV $0 - $149,999.99) properties pay $285.74
Tier 2 (CIV $150,000 - $299,999.99) properties pay $382.03
Tier 3 (CIV $300,000 - $739,999.99) properties pay $449.32
Tier 4 (CIV $740,000 - $999,999.99) properties pay $632.57
Tier 5 (CIV $1,000,000 - $1,999,999.99) properties pay $1187.50 and
Tier 6 (CIV $2,000,000 plus) properties pay $1920.49
For the third, fourth and fifth years of the Scheme, the Special Charge payable in respect of the properties in each of the above tiered benefit classifications will be based on an increase of 1.75 percent on the respective amounts payable in the immediate preceding year.
The properties included in the Scheme will otherwise be subject to general revaluations and supplementary valuations on the same cycle as Council general rates and charges.
The Special Charge will be levied by Council sending a notice to the persons who are liable to pay the Special Charge which will require that the Special Charge must be paid in the following manner –
- By one annual payment to be paid in full by the due date fixed by the Council in the notice which will be a date not less than 30 days after the issue of the notice; or
- By four instalments to be paid by the dates which are fixed by the Council in the notice.
Council will consider cases of financial or other hardship and may reconsider other payment options for the Special Charge. There will be no incentives given for payment of the Special Charge before the due dates for payment.
Copies of the proposed declaration of the Special Charge and a detailed plan of the Scheme area are available for inspection at the Coburg Council Offices, 90 Bell Street and the Coburg Library, corner of Victoria and Louisa Streets, Coburg, during normal business hours for a period of at least 28 days after the publication of this notice.
Any person may make a submission to Council under sections 163A and 223 of the Act.
In addition, any person who will be required to pay the Special Charge to be imposed by the proposed declaration, whether an owner or an occupier of a property included in the Scheme, has the right to object to the proposed declaration, and may also make a written objection to the Council under 163B of the Act. An occupier is entitled to exercise the right of objection if they submit documentary evidence with the objection which shows that it is a condition of the lease under which the person is an occupier that the occupier is to pay the Special Charge.
Written submissions to be submitted to Council under section 223 of the Act and/or written objections to be lodged with Council under section 163B of the Act must be received by Council by 5pm on Friday 24 June 2022.
Submissions and/or objections must be in writing and addressed and sent by mail to –
Manager City Strategy and Economy
Moreland City Council
Locked Bag 10
MORELAND VIC 3058
Any person who has made a written submission under section 223 of the Act and has requested to be heard in support of their written submission is entitled to appear in person or online (subject to COVID-19 restrictions at the time) or to be represented by a person specified in the submission before the Council (or a Committee of Council appointed by Council) under section 223 of the Act, the day, time and place of which will be advised in writing.
Any person making a written submission under section 223 of the Act is advised that Council is not required to make available for public inspection submissions received in accordance with section 223 of the Act. Accordingly, all submissions and personal information in submissions will be handled as authorised or required by law, including under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.
Council will consider any written submissions and take into account any objections in accordance with sections 163A, 163B and 223 of the Act.
Any person requiring further information concerning the proposed declaration of the Special Charge or the Scheme should in the first instance contact the Economic Development team on 8311 4131 or email business@moreland.vic.gov.au