By Eddie Russell
A Kurunjang couple has been fined twice for the same offence by Melton council because their rental property is listed in both their names.
Solomon Hayle-Mesfin and his wife, Sara Ewetnu, were initially fined $600, but now have to pay over $1200 because they are both named as the owners of the house.
Mr Hayle-Mesfin said the result was both confusing and unfair.
“We pay one land tax, one council rate, and one water service, so why two infringements?” he said.
“I’ve been in Australia for 20 years and I’ve never heard such kinds of things.”
Mr Hayle-Mesfin initially received an infringement notice for $100 for ‘failing to ensure nature strip is maintained in accordance with local law’.
A further $500 was added for ‘failing to comply to notice to comply’, due to the property’s tenants failing to meet an extension date set by council.
Mr Hayle-Mesfin said tenants could not complete the necessary gardening due to heavy rain in December.
An average of 79 millimetres of rain fell on Victoria that month, the highest rainfall total for December since 2017.
Following this, Ms Ewetnu received a separate fine for the same two infringements.
A council spokesperson said council was within its rights to fine the couple individually for the matter.
“If the required works are not carried out, both property owners may be fined on the basis that they are individually responsible for compliance in relation to the property they own,” the spokesperson said.
The dispute has left Mr Hayle-Mesfin feeling ‘very disappointed’ and ‘upset’.
