A road and drainage improvement project typically involves the construction of road and drainage upgrades, pathways and other associated works like traffic calming in urban areas of the Shire.

Council has identified areas and streets where the existing infrastructure does not currently meet the community’s needs and expectations. These projects are typically funded through a special charge scheme. Council also contributes to these projects based on the benefits provided to the wider community.

The delivery of the upgrade project would be subject to final Council approval and the availability of Council funding.

This stage of consultation is to determine if there is adequate support from property owners to proceed with the development of concept plans and upgrade options.

If there is poor support from property owners, Council will not proceed with the project, and property owners would need to present a petition in future to have an upgrade reconsidered.

Your response at this stage of consultation is not a formal vote in support or objection to an upgrade project, but only an indication that you would like Council to explore an upgrade for your street. Further community consultation would then be undertaken to help determine a preferred project design. All property owners would then have the opportunity to formally support or oppose the proposed special charge scheme after a final design and individual estimated property costs have been provided.

A Special Charge Scheme is a way for Council to raise money for an upgrade project by charging property owners that benefit from the upgrade. This is allowed by the Local Government Act 1989. Thanks to this, many towns now have improved roads and drainage which has led to less dust and flooding.

The aim of an upgrade project is to ensure communities get the infrastructure that is expected when living in a residential area. The people who live there will get the benefits that come with these improvements.

Road and drainage upgrade projects are undertaken in accordance with the Bass Coast Shire Council Urban Road and Drainage Improvement Policy 2024

The Council uses money from rates to provide many services, including road maintenance. However, this money does not cover new improvements like building unsealed roads, kerbs, footpaths, or drainage if they don't already exist.

The Council has a policy called the Urban Roads and Drainage Improvement Policy 2024. This policy says that the cost of substantial upgrades to roads, drainage, or footpaths must be shared by the property owners who benefit the most from these improvements.

If the Batman Street Road and Drainage Upgrade Project receives support from property owners, Council officers will develop example design options and cost estimates. These will be shaped by feedback gathered through community consultation.

Cost estimates are based on concept and functional designs and various due diligence reports undertaken to ensure the estimate of cost allows for various contingencies.

A benefit ratio will be determined by Council. The benefit ratio is a calculation of the benefits received by the properties within the special charge scheme compared to benefits received by the wider community. Council contributes towards the benefits received by the wider community.

The contribution required by the property owners within the scheme is then shared to each property based on various factors such as property area, boundary length, types of works (road, drainage or footpaths) and any discounts that may be required to be considered.

These calculations will be determined once the preferred concept plans are adopted. Indicative only examples will be discussed with property owners during the community consultation.

The concept designs will be prepared balancing design requirements such as minimal cost, least impact to the environment and retaining the characteristics of the area.

Generally, the road can be upgraded following the existing footprint of gravel roads. In areas of shearwater rookeries, the proposed upgrades can retain works within the existing road footprint to avoid impacts to these extremely important habitats. Road widths can be minimised to reduce and avoid impacts to the existing vegetation. Footpaths can be minimised and meandered to avoid impacting on the existing vegetation and retain the characteristics of the area. Swale drains can be retained in selected locations to protect existing vegetation, wildlife and street characteristics. Traffic calming treatments can be tailored to provide additional space for vegetation and enhance street characteristics. No additional street lighting will be installed which will assist to protect the shear waters migration.

Consideration to protecting and mitigating impacts to local flora and fauna will be undertaken in accordance with due diligence reports. Additional advice and targeted surveys will be undertaken if the project is supported to progress into the detailed design and construction phase. All legislative requirements will be followed. If the project is supported, the detailed design phase will ensure there are minor adjustments as required to avoid and minimise impact on existing vegetation as a priority.

There is no payment required at this stage. If the project was formally supported by the community, Council must levy the special charges within 12 months of the declaration, in accordance with the Local Government Act 1989.

At the end of construction (practical completion) and defects liability (generally 12 months after this), Council officers will prepare a report to Council to finalise all costs associated with the project.

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1989, Council is able to increase the charge by a maximum of 10% if the actual project cost increases. It is rare to increase the costs but is at Council discretion to enact if required. If the project cost is less than estimated, then savings are returned to the property owners.

Although there is no payment required at this stage, if the project was supported by the community and developed further as a project, the following payment options will be available:

Payment Option 1: Lump Sum Payment – upfront payment of the Special Charge in full within 30 days of the date of issue of an invoice, with a 5% discount and no interest.

Payment Option 2: Lump Sum Payment – upfront payment of the Special Charge in full within 90 days of the date of issue of an invoice, with no discount and no interest.

Payment Option 3: Instalment Payment Plan – payment of the Special Charge in 40 quarterly instalments over 10 years, with interest. Interest will be charged on the reducing balance of the principal each quarter at the rate of 1% above the estimated borrowing costs of the Council. If a ratepayer is late with payment of an instalment, penalty interest will be charged on the balance of principal due each quarter.

Payment Option 4: Hardship Payment Plan - A payment plan, extended beyond 10 years to a maximum of 20 years, tailored to the individual needs of the ratepayer upon receipt of a completed Financial Hardship Application Form. This option is subject to the Council assessing the property owner as experiencing financial hardship, in accordance with the Council’s Hardship and Financial Hardship Policy.

Property owners will be advised of the interest rate available prior to selecting a payment option if the project is supported for construction.

If the special charge scheme was approved in the future and you believe that you may have difficulty paying, please contact Council’s Revenue Services team on 5671 2211. Our officers are more than willing to confidentially discuss payment options with you, taking into account your current situation. Ratepayers who reside in the affected property and their only form of income is a Government pension may qualify for hardship assistance. A copy of Council’s Hardship and Financial Hardship Policy can be found on our website at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/policies

You can ask questions by calling Bass Coast Council’s Customer Service Team on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.

If you have questions about the details of the Special Charge Scheme, please ask for Council’s Sustainable Transport and Movement Team or email roadupgrades@basscoast.vic.gov.au.

If you have questions about the construction or staging of the project, please ask for Council’s Infrastructure Delivery team.

If your question is about financial hardship, please ask for Council’s Specialist Revenue Officer or the Revenue Service team.

At this stage Council Officers are only completing a survey of property owners to gauge initial support for a road and drainage upgrade. This will guide Council's next steps. No formal decision has been made by Council to proceed with the project.

The construction stage is another step that goes to a Council meeting for a decision, which is undertaken after the planning phase. Once the concept plans and costings have been developed with the community, a further report will be presented to Council outlining design options together with the cost for both Council and property owners. Once the preferred project design is adopted, Council will initiate the legislative process through an intent to declare a special charge scheme.

Once this has occurred, property owners can make a formal written submission in support or opposition to the proposed special charge scheme. If this was to occur, all affected property owners would be notified.