We say - cut rates for seniors, not force them out of their homes or into debt.
There are many residents in Port Phillip, like Tanya*, who face the nightmare of Council demanding exorbitant rates from them knowing that with a small fixed income or pension they will never be able to pay. In most cases, these residents are simply the innocent victims of overspending councils and unaffordable rates.
As example, in 1983 when Adrian bought his first home in Middle Park the rates were $500 per annum. Now they are $5000 but the level of services has not substantially increased. Council’s solution to these struggling residents is to reverse mortgage their property to the council or sell and move elsewhere. Council then has a caveat on their homes.
The measly ‘help’ council provides to those on a pension card
Many retired residents in Port Phillip are stalwarts of their communities. Many were born and bred in the areas they now live and are proud to call our suburbs home. When council relentlessly increases rates to levels not seen in other parts of Melbourne, questions must be asked about the fairness of a rates system that forces the elderly to reverse mortgage their homes.
The current high level of Port Phillip rates is adding needless stress to our senior citizens in an already stressful year. They just want to quietly live out their lives, on their fixed incomes, in the homes that they raised their families in.
WE SAY- we should not tolerate this appalling treatment of our senior citizens and we demand that rates for seniors should be cut. Council spend millions every year on frivolous ideologically inspired projects that wastes millions of our dollars and only increases the pressure for those who are retired. With almost 42% of all Council income being spent on employing between 800-900 council public servants, many more than neighbouring councils, one reason for our high rates is evident. Many seem to exist to endlessly write reports and are not directly involved in providing services. This is a massive self-serving bureaucracy that has much room for efficiencies and improved productivity so we can better look after vulnerable people in our community. Real charity should begin with our elderly ratepayers who are long-term residents of the City of Port Phillip.
Shame on our Councillors and our Council for putting our residents into debt.
*Tanya’s story is real and is one echoed throughout Port Phillip but her name and face has been changed to protect her identity. Council provides retirees with the option to defer payment of their rates until their properties are sold at which time, they collect the unpaid rates plus interest of 5% p.a. which is effectively a reverse mortgage.
Out of touch council are removing car parking spaces with little regard for the needs of residents & traders.
Council has a massive financial dependence on car parking fees and fines and are on an ideological mission to remove car parking spaces. Port Phillip Council Sustainable Transport Policy and Parking Rates “Council is seeking to achieve a reduced reliance on usage of private cars.” Council are out of touch with residents because we do not expect to pay for a parking permit when we are already paying massive rates and there are not enough car parks. Council are grasping at any opportunity to claw in cash to fund their massive bureaucracy. Parking is on their $$$ radar with little regard for residents or retail business’s needs.
RoPP’s Parking Policies:
- One free permit for all eligible properties.
- Encourage customers to shopping precincts with low cost parking.
- We do not support the unnecessary removal of car parks across the community, especially at shopping precincts.
- Use real-world car ownership and parking data to assess the parking needs of the community and traders, both now and into the future.
- Ensure adequate and fair access to parking for homes. * Ensure all apartment building developments have parking available on site for all apartments.
Council are out of touch with residents’ needs when it comes to parking and traffic management. Despite the vast majority of residents owning one or more cars*, Port Phillip Council’s ideological focus has been on the removal of parking spaces, even though it is well established that cars are essential to our community. Particularly for families to go shopping, to pick up children from school or sports, to commute to work, or to visit family and friends. This is especially true for the aged.
Council’s ideology has had a detrimental effect on narrowing streets and making it more difficult for drivers and more dangerous for cyclists when bike lanes are placed in the wrong locations. Removal of valuable parking spaces which is destroying business for our traders. Council’s deliberate strategy is changing our growing neighbourhoods – and not for the better.
Fitzroy and Acland Streets once thriving, vibrant icons of our city have been decimated by poor planning. Most street parking has been removed, turning these once thriving and magnetic attractions into quiet retail back-waters.
Planning for growth
While Council expect community numbers to grow, they are reducing our road lanes and parking. The lack of adequate car parking and excessive cost discourages our community and visitors dining or shopping in Port Phillip.
https://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/about-the-council/strategies-policies-and-plans/transport-policies-strategies-and-plans
Resident On-Street Parking
Rates within the Port Phillip Council are amongst the highest in Melbourne*** yet residents still have to pay for their parking permits. Unlike residents of nearby councils, where Glen Eira residents get one parking permit for free, Stonnington residents get two free parking permits and Bayside residents get four free parking permits. One would think that for the exorbitant amount we are forced to pay we would be at least able to park one of our our vehicles for free outside our own homes. But our council needs the cash so they charge an additional annual “Parking Permit” fee. Another ‘Anti Community Tax’
Recently RoPP asked the Council about these fees and here was Council’s Reply:
“The Parking Permit pricing is not intended to increase revenue but to achieve a cost neutral outcome” Council Staff
We Say – If this is the case then why does Council charge this fee in the first place and not just make on street parking to eligible residents FREE?
Our pledge to ratepayers, should our Candidates gain the balance of power within the Council in the upcoming elections is that we will ensure on street parking for eligible ratepayers is FREE.
Council should maximise parking availability and minimise costs to residents to provide amenity to the majority of the community that rely on convenient car parking. Parking fees for residents should be reasonable and Council should not rely on excessive parking income from residents as a means to prop up its budget**.
Residents and visitors should not be prevented from an outing in Port Phillip due to the cost of parking.
